Abstract
A current-free electric double layer is created in a helicon double layer thruster operating with xenon and compared to a recently developed theory. The Xe+ ion beam formed by acceleration through the potential drop of the double layer is characterized radially using an electrostatic ion energy analyzer. For operating conditions of 500 W rf power, 0.07 mTorr gas pressure, and a maximum magnetic field of 125 G, the measured beam velocity is about 6 km s-1, the beam area is about 150 cm2, and the measured beam divergence is less than 6°.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 261503 |
Journal | Applied Physics Letters |
Volume | 89 |
Issue number | 26 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2006 |