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Microwave plume measurements of a closed drift hall thruster

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ohler, S; Gilchrist, BE; Gallimore, A
Published in: Journal of Propulsion and Power
January 1, 1998

The plasma plume from a closed drift hall thruster has been characterized using a 17-GHz microwave diagnostic system. Electron number density profiles are obtained throughout the thruster plume via differential phase measurements. A functional model of plasma density has been developed combining a near-field Gaussian beam term and a far-field point source expansion term. An outcome of this work is a mapping of the transition region between the near- and far-field plume. An indication of slight plume asymmetry is obtained by evaluating total integrated density measurements along rays emanating from the thruster. Additional equations have determined the plasma plume effect on attenuation and spectral characteristics of a wave transmitted through the plume. The attenuation was small, with slightly over 2 dB loss at 0.09 m along the thruster axis. However, ray-tracing attenuation modeling based on plasma density profiles indicates a greater effect for lower-frequency operation. The spectral data of the signal transmitted through the plume exhibited clear 26-kHz harmonic sidebands and added broadband noise. Estimates of potential impact to communication and other electromagnetic satellite systems can be obtained directly from the measurements and from the electron number density distribution models derived from the measurements.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Propulsion and Power

DOI

EISSN

1533-3876

ISSN

0748-4658

Publication Date

January 1, 1998

Volume

14

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1016 / 1021

Related Subject Headings

  • Aerospace & Aeronautics
  • 4001 Aerospace engineering
  • 0913 Mechanical Engineering
  • 0901 Aerospace Engineering
  • 0202 Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Ohler, S., Gilchrist, B. E., & Gallimore, A. (1998). Microwave plume measurements of a closed drift hall thruster. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 14(6), 1016–1021. https://doi.org/10.2514/2.5367
Ohler, S., B. E. Gilchrist, and A. Gallimore. “Microwave plume measurements of a closed drift hall thruster.” Journal of Propulsion and Power 14, no. 6 (January 1, 1998): 1016–21. https://doi.org/10.2514/2.5367.
Ohler S, Gilchrist BE, Gallimore A. Microwave plume measurements of a closed drift hall thruster. Journal of Propulsion and Power. 1998 Jan 1;14(6):1016–21.
Ohler, S., et al. “Microwave plume measurements of a closed drift hall thruster.” Journal of Propulsion and Power, vol. 14, no. 6, Jan. 1998, pp. 1016–21. Scopus, doi:10.2514/2.5367.
Ohler S, Gilchrist BE, Gallimore A. Microwave plume measurements of a closed drift hall thruster. Journal of Propulsion and Power. 1998 Jan 1;14(6):1016–1021.

Published In

Journal of Propulsion and Power

DOI

EISSN

1533-3876

ISSN

0748-4658

Publication Date

January 1, 1998

Volume

14

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1016 / 1021

Related Subject Headings

  • Aerospace & Aeronautics
  • 4001 Aerospace engineering
  • 0913 Mechanical Engineering
  • 0901 Aerospace Engineering
  • 0202 Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics