Probe Diagnostics and Optical Emission Spectroscopy of Wave Plasma Source Exhaust

Wave plasma sources (WPSs) were first proposed in the 1970s for electric propulsion (EP), and these research development processes culminated flight test 2021 of WPS-based thruster REGULUS. Recently, new approaches to WPS use have emerged—multiple schemes EPs that can generate propelling forces multiple directions within a single head, regarded as breakthrough technology in-space systems (PSs). One concepts is bi-directional wave based on open-ended gas discharge chamber—the symmetrical system. Up now, WPSs chambers not been widely studied. In this paper, flow formed by chamber was axially characterized using retarding potential analyzer (RPA), Langmuir probe (LP), optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The presence double-layer (DL) confirmed drastic change along axis, specific impulse 1100 s indirectly measured. measurement results show efficient operations.