Low-current, xenon orificed hollow cathode performance for in-space applications

An experimental investigation of the operating characteristics of 3.2-mm-diam orificed hollow cathodes was conducted to examine low-current and low flow-rate operation. Cathode power for self-sustaining keeper operation was minimized with an orifice aspect ratio of approximately one or through the use of an enclosed keeper. For spot-mode emission cathode flow-rate requirements were proportional to orifice diameter and the inverse of the orifice length. The minimum power consumption in diode mode was 10 W, and the minimum mass flow rate required for spot-mode emission was approximately 0.08 mg/s. Cathode temperature profiles were obtained using an imaging radiometer, and conduction was found to be the dominant heat-transfer mechanism from the cathode tube. Orifice plate temperatures were found to be weakly dependent upon the flow rate and strongly dependent upon the current.

Duke Scholars

Author Alec Gallimore Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...