Emission spectroscopy for the study of electric propulsion plasmas
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2009.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | eng |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2010
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51634 |
| _version_ | 1826189081545015296 |
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| author | Matlock, Taylor Scott |
| author2 | Oleg Batishchev. |
| author_facet | Oleg Batishchev. Matlock, Taylor Scott |
| author_sort | Matlock, Taylor Scott |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2009. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T08:09:15Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | mit-1721.1/51634 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T08:09:15Z |
| publishDate | 2010 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/516342019-04-09T16:58:05Z Emission spectroscopy for the study of electric propulsion plasmas Matlock, Taylor Scott Oleg Batishchev. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Aeronautics and Astronautics. Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2009. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-124). Typical electric propulsion devices rely on the acceleration of highly ionized plasmas to produce thrust at specific impulses unattainable with state-of-the-art chemical systems. This thesis examines the use of a miniaturized Helicon plasma source for an open-ended, electrode-less, cathode-less thruster through emission spectroscopy. The use of non-invasive diagnostics allows the measurement of important plasma parameters near the ionization region, where the plasma densities and temperatures are prohibitively high for typical electrostatic probes, while avoiding the inherent perturbations caused by invasive techniques. A spectral study of the Helicon antenna region, yielding axially resolved information on the electron temperature and degree of ionization, is discussed. A similar study in the near-field plume is presented, along with Doppler shift measurements, which clearly demonstrate continued acceleration upstream of the thruster exit. The Doppler shift measurements are validated by extending the study to a Hall effect thruster plasma, well characterized in the literature. Ion flux estimates from the downstream portion of the spectroscopic survey are compared with Faraday probe measurements. Possible mechanisms for thrust are presented along with their implications on Helicon thruster design. by Taylor Scott Matlock. S.M. 2010-02-09T16:54:32Z 2010-02-09T16:54:32Z 2009 2009 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51634 496301298 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 132 leaves application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| spellingShingle | Aeronautics and Astronautics. Matlock, Taylor Scott Emission spectroscopy for the study of electric propulsion plasmas |
| title | Emission spectroscopy for the study of electric propulsion plasmas |
| title_full | Emission spectroscopy for the study of electric propulsion plasmas |
| title_fullStr | Emission spectroscopy for the study of electric propulsion plasmas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emission spectroscopy for the study of electric propulsion plasmas |
| title_short | Emission spectroscopy for the study of electric propulsion plasmas |
| title_sort | emission spectroscopy for the study of electric propulsion plasmas |
| topic | Aeronautics and Astronautics. |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51634 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT matlocktaylorscott emissionspectroscopyforthestudyofelectricpropulsionplasmas |