A. I. Bugrova

On a similarity criterion for plasma accelerators of the stationary plasma thruster type

Operation of a stationary plasma accelerator of the ATON type employing various working gases is considered. Using a proposed similarity criterion, an optimum operation regime of the accelerator for krypton is selected. Comparative integral parameters of an accelerator operating on krypton and xenon are presented.

Global characteristics of an ATON stationary plasma thruster operating with krypton and xenon

The global characteristics of an ATON stationary plasma thruster operating on xenon and krypton are investigated. It is shown that, with krypton, the thrust at the same mass flow rate of the working gas is greater and the efficiency is somewhat lower than those with xenon. An efficiency of ∼60% was achieved with krypton for the specific impulse attaining 3000 s. The jet divergence is ∼±22° for krypton and ∼±11° for xenon.

Effect of the ratio of differently charged ions on the integral parameters of stationary plasma thrusters of the ATON type

AbstractThe main integral parameters of stationary plasma thrusters (SPTs) of the ATON type with the outer channel diameters 60 mm (model A-3) and 100 mm (model A-5) are presented. The SPT characteristics have been studied for the propellant (Xe) consumption rates

Measurements of a negative ion flux inplasma thruster tests in a vacuum chamber

\dot m

Experimental investigation of thrust-vector deviation in a plasma thruster

= 2 and 1 mg/s for A-3 and

ATON-Thruster Plasma Accelerator

\dot m