Mode transitions in the helicon double-layer thruster prototype operating in xenon

Michael D. West; Christine Charles; Rod W. Boswell

doi:10.1109/TPS.2011.2158589

Mode transitions in the helicon double-layer thruster prototype operating in xenon

Michael D. West^*, Christine Charles, Rod W. Boswell

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A prototype of the helicon double-layer thruster (HDLT) has been tested and characterized when immersed inside a space simulation vacuum chamber. When operating with xenon and increasing the applied radio-frequency power, a new high-density "blue" mode has been observed. This mode occurs when the plasma source transitions from a capacitively coupled mode to a probable helicon-wave-sustained mode. Images of the HDLT prototype operating in xenon are presented and show the appearance of a bright white/blue plasma once the mode transition occurs. This is accompanied by a significant increase in the plasma density inside the plasma source of the HDLT.

Original language	English
Article number	5936127
Pages (from-to)	2468-2469
Number of pages	2
Journal	IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Volume	39
Issue number	11 PART 1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/TPS.2011.2158589
Publication status	Published - Nov 2011

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title = "Mode transitions in the helicon double-layer thruster prototype operating in xenon",

abstract = "A prototype of the helicon double-layer thruster (HDLT) has been tested and characterized when immersed inside a space simulation vacuum chamber. When operating with xenon and increasing the applied radio-frequency power, a new high-density {"}blue{"} mode has been observed. This mode occurs when the plasma source transitions from a capacitively coupled mode to a probable helicon-wave-sustained mode. Images of the HDLT prototype operating in xenon are presented and show the appearance of a bright white/blue plasma once the mode transition occurs. This is accompanied by a significant increase in the plasma density inside the plasma source of the HDLT.",

keywords = "Double-layer, electric propulsion, helicon, plasma thruster, space technology, xenon",

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AU - West, Michael D.

AU - Charles, Christine

AU - Boswell, Rod W.

PY - 2011/11

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N2 - A prototype of the helicon double-layer thruster (HDLT) has been tested and characterized when immersed inside a space simulation vacuum chamber. When operating with xenon and increasing the applied radio-frequency power, a new high-density "blue" mode has been observed. This mode occurs when the plasma source transitions from a capacitively coupled mode to a probable helicon-wave-sustained mode. Images of the HDLT prototype operating in xenon are presented and show the appearance of a bright white/blue plasma once the mode transition occurs. This is accompanied by a significant increase in the plasma density inside the plasma source of the HDLT.

AB - A prototype of the helicon double-layer thruster (HDLT) has been tested and characterized when immersed inside a space simulation vacuum chamber. When operating with xenon and increasing the applied radio-frequency power, a new high-density "blue" mode has been observed. This mode occurs when the plasma source transitions from a capacitively coupled mode to a probable helicon-wave-sustained mode. Images of the HDLT prototype operating in xenon are presented and show the appearance of a bright white/blue plasma once the mode transition occurs. This is accompanied by a significant increase in the plasma density inside the plasma source of the HDLT.

KW - Double-layer

KW - electric propulsion

KW - helicon

KW - plasma thruster

KW - space technology

KW - xenon

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DO - 10.1109/TPS.2011.2158589

M3 - Article

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SP - 2468

EP - 2469

JO - IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science

JF - IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science

IS - 11 PART 1

M1 - 5936127

ER -

Mode transitions in the helicon double-layer thruster prototype operating in xenon

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