Experimental investigation of hall thrusterinteral magnetic field topography
Magnetic field measurements were made in the discharge channel of the 5-kW-class P5 laboratory-model Hall thruster to investigate what effect the Hall current has on the static, applied magnetic field topology. The P5 was operated at 1.6 kW and 3.0 kW with a discharge voltage of 300 V. The magnetic coils were operated at currents that minimized the discharge current for each power level investigated. A miniature inductive loop probe (B-Dot probe) was employed to measure the radial magnetic field profile inside the discharge channel of the P5 with and without the plasma discharge. These measurements are accomplished with minimum disturbance to thruster operation with the High-speed Axial Reciprocating Probe (HARP) system. Data are presented at axial locations ranging from 1 cm downstream of the anode to 6 cm downstream of the thruster exit plane, and at several radial positions covering the width of the discharge chamber. Measured magnetic field profiles are compared to calculated self-field profiles from previously measured Hall current profiles. The results of the B-Dot probe's measurements indicate a change in the magnetic field topography, from that of the vacuum field measurements, in the discharge channel of the P5 Hall thruster at the two thruster power levels investigated. © 2001 by Peter Peterson Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
