Modeling of a Pulsed Plasma Thruster; Simple Design, Complex Matter
نویسندگان
چکیده
Experiments conducted at the Surrey Space Centre on a breadboard pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) have led to greater insights in to the underlying principles of electrode erosion during plasma formation. It has been shown that during a PPT discharge a significant proportion of the plasma that is produced is from direct erosion of the electrodes to the extent that traditional Teflon propellant bars were removed from the PPT and it remained operational. The removal of the propellant bar allowed a direct relationship between the plasma mass and the eroded mass to be constructed. Research from the metal film deposition and cathodic plasma fields was then drawn upon to create a model for the eroded mass. This model was then expanded and used to predict the current profile of a discharging PPT and compared to experimental current profiles using a rogowski coil.
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