Performance characterization of a helicon double layer thruster using direct thrust measurements

Sabrina Pottinger (1) , Vaios Lappas (1) , Christine Charles (2) , Rod W. Boswell (2)

1 Surrey Space Centre [Guildford]
2 RSPE - Research School of Physics and Engineering [Canberra}

The performance of a Helicon Double Layer Thruster (HDLT) has been characterised using a pendulum type thrust stand and retarding field energy analyser. Data recorded for a fixed propellant flow rate of 16 sccm of krypton and fixed magnetic field topology show that the thrust generated increases linearly with increasing radio frequency input power over a range of 250 W to 650 W. Over the power range investigated thrust levels of approximately 1 to 2.8 mN were achieved. A maximum effective specific impulse of 280 s was determined using the thrust data. Ion energy distribution functions indicate that increasing power corresponds to improved plasma generation processes as general trends show increasing plasma and beam currents with increasing power.

Mots clés: Physical Sciences

Sabrina Pottinger, Vaios Lappas, Christine Charles, Rod W. Boswell. Performance characterization of a helicon double layer thruster using direct thrust measurements. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 2011, 44 (23), pp.235201. ⟨10.1088/0022-3727/44/23/235201⟩. ⟨hal-00623795⟩