Measurement of energetic efficiency of electron emission under low energy electron beam irradiation: application to Hall thruster dielectric walls

M. Villemant (1) , P. Sarrailh (1) , M. Belhaj (1) , Laurent Garrigues (2) , C. Boniface (3)

1 ONERA - The French Aerospace Lab [Toulouse]
2 LAPLACE-GREPHE - Groupe de Recherche Energétique, Plasmas et Hors Equilibre
3 CNES - Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse]

From its discovery until nowadays, electrons emission (EE) has been thoroughly studied and has allowed numerous technologies development. Among them, RADAR, Scanning Electron Microscope and scintillators can be quoted. EE can also be a parasitic phenomenon especially for space applications (multipactor effect in wave guides, spacecraft charging, etc.). Until now, EE has essentially been described for high incident energy (superior to 100 eV). However several technologies are being developed which involved EE with low incident energy (below 100 eV). One of them is plasma thrusters for satellites applications. Toward this work, low energy EE impact (below 100 eV) on energetic balance in Stationary Plasma Thrusters (SPTs) will be discussed as well as method of measurement of this impact.

Mots clés: SPACECRAFT CHARGING; ELECTRON EMISSION; PLASMA THRUSTER

Domaines: Physique de l'espace [physics.space-ph]

M. Villemant, P. Sarrailh, M. Belhaj, Laurent Garrigues, C. Boniface. Measurement of energetic efficiency of electron emission under low energy electron beam irradiation: application to Hall thruster dielectric walls. Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference SCTC 2016, Apr 2016, NOORDWIJK, Netherlands. ⟨hal-01371883⟩