Design of a cusped field plasma thruster

Author(s)
Conte, Joseph Richard, III
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.
Advisor
Paulo Lozano.
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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).
 
Date issued
2012
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/72841
Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keywords
Mechanical Engineering.
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