This paper introduces a new concept for the magnetic field in a Hall-effect thruster. The Magnetic Interference Hall Accelerator (MIHA) uses independent magnetic circuit elements to put its peak magnetic field outside its exit plane. As a result, the zone of minimum electron mobility is outside its exit plane, as well as its ion acceleration zone. Wall-effects are reduced, and ion bombardment o...

Ion plating is essentially vapor deposition onto a substrate which is the cathode of a glow discharge. The most important characteristic of the technique is that the growing film is subjected to a flux of high energy particles (neutrals and ions). In this study we report information about the effect of ion plating parameters on grain diameter and crystallite size distribution. At a constant pot...

Understanding the evolution and behavior of materials exposed to plasma is critical for design future electric propulsion devices. As ions are ejected from device generating thrust, they also impact ceramic walls. This induces wall erosion, ultimately exposing magnetic circuit, leading malfunction failure device. There several models that try predict this effect by accounting material sputterin...