Design of a cusped field plasma thruster

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Design of a cusped field plasma thruster

Author: Conte, Joseph Richard, III

Citable URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/72841

Other Contributors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Advisor: Paulo Lozano.

Department: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Publisher: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Date Issued: 2012

Abstract:

A plasma space propulsion thruster has been designed. It is classified as a Cusped Field Thruster (CFT), which refers to the geometry of the magnetic field that influences the flow of electrons and ions. The thruster was modeled after an original Diverging Cusped Field Thruster (DCFT) developed at MIT's Space Propulsion Laboratory. There are several improvements (including a flat downstream separatrix) that are aimed at increasing performance. In general, plasma thrusters have applications in satellite trajectory adjustment and deep space probes because of their superior fuel efficiency compared to chemical thrusters.

Description:

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2012.Pages 46-85 printed landscape format. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 44-45).

URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/72841

Keywords: Mechanical Engineering.

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