Read more
Fundamentals of Electric Propulsion
Understand the fundamental basis of spaceflight with this cutting-edge guide
As spacecraft engineering continues to advance, so too do the propulsion methods by which human beings can seek out the stars. Ion thrusters and Hall thrusters have been the subject of considerable innovation in recent years, and spacecraft propulsion has never been more efficient. For professionals within and adjacent to spacecraft engineering, this is critical knowledge that can alter the future of space flight.
Fundamentals of Electric Propulsion offers a thorough grounding in electric propulsion for spacecraft, particularly the features and mechanisms underlying Ion and Hall thrusters. Updated in the light of rapidly expanding knowledge, the second edition of this essential guide detailed coverage of thruster principles, plasma physics, and more. It reflects the historic output of the legendary Jet Propulsion Laboratory and promises to continue as a must-own volume for spacecraft engineering professionals.
Readers of the second edition of Fundamentals of Electric Propulsion readers will also find:
* Extensive updates to chapters covering hollow cathodes and Hall thrusters, based on vigorous recent research
* New sections covering magnetic shielding, cathode plume instabilities, and more
* Figures and homework problems in each chapter to facilitate learning and retention
Fundamentals of Electric Propulsion is an essential work for spacecraft engineers and researchers working in spacecraft propulsion and related fields, as well as graduate students in electric propulsion, aerospace science, and space science courses.
List of contents
Note from the Series Editor xi
Foreword xiii
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xvii
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Electric Propulsion Background 2
1.2 Electric Thruster Types 3
1.2.1 Resistojet 3
1.2.2 Arcjet 4
1.2.3 Electrospray/FEEP Thruster 4
1.2.4 Ion Thruster 4
1.2.5 Hall Thruster 4
1.2.6 Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) Thruster 4
1.2.7 Pulsed Plasma Thruster (PPT) 5
1.2.8 Pulsed Inductive Thruster (PIT) 5
1.3 Electrostatic Thrusters 6
1.3.1 Ion Thrusters 6
1.3.2 Hall Thrusters 7
1.4 Electromagnetic Thrusters 7
1.4.1 Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters 8
1.4.2 Pulsed Plasma Thrusters 9
1.4.3 Pulsed Inductive Thrusters 9
1.5 Beam/Plume Characteristics 11
References 12
2 Thruster Principles 15
2.1 The Rocket Equation 15
2.2 Force Transfer in Electric Thrusters 17
2.2.1 Ion Thrusters 17
2.2.2 Hall Thrusters 18
2.2.3 Electromagnetic Thrusters 19
2.3 Thrust 20
2.4 Specific Impulse 23
2.5 Thruster Efficiency 25
2.6 Power Dissipation 27
2.7 Neutral Densities and Ingestion 29
Problems 30
References 31
3 Basic Plasma Physics 33
3.1 Introduction 33
3.2 Maxwell's Equations 33
3.3 Single Particle Motions 34
3.4 Particle Energies and Velocities 37
3.5 Plasma as a Fluid 39
3.5.1 Momentum Conservation 39
3.5.2 Particle Conservation 41
3.5.3 Energy Conservation 43
3.6 Diffusion in Partially Ionized Plasma 45
3.6.1 Collisions 46
3.6.2 Diffusion and Mobility Without a Magnetic Field 49
3.6.2.1 Fick's Law and the Diffusion Equation 50
3.6.2.2 Ambipolar Diffusion Without a Magnetic Field 53
3.6.3 Diffusion Across Magnetic Fields 54
3.6.3.1 Classical Diffusion of Particles across B Fields 54
3.6.3.2 Ambipolar Diffusion Across B Fields 56
3.7 Sheaths at the Boundaries of Plasmas 57
3.7.1 Debye Sheaths 58
3.7.2 Pre-sheaths 60
3.7.3 Child-Langmuir Sheath 62
3.7.4 Generalized Sheath Solution 63
3.7.5 Double Sheaths 65
3.7.6 Summary of Sheath Effects 67
Problems 69
References 70
4 Hollow Cathodes 71
4.1 Introduction 71
4.2 Cathode Configurations 76
4.3 Thermionic Electron Emitters 80
4.4 Insert Region 85
4.5 Orifice Region 100
4.6 Cathode Plume Region 110
4.7 Heating and Thermal Models 117
4.7.1 Hollow Cathode Heaters 117
4.7.2 Heaterless Hollow Cathodes 118
4.7.3 Hollow Cathode Thermal Models 120
4.8 Hollow Cathode Life 122
4.8.1 Dispenser Cathode Insert-Region Plasmas 122
4.8.2 BaO Cathode Insert Temperature 124
4.8.3 Barium Depletion Model 127
4.8.4 Bulk-Material Insert Life 130
4.8.5 Cathode Poisoning 131
4.9 Keeper Wear and Life 134
4.10 Discharge Behavior and Instabilities 136
4.10.1 Discharge Modes 136
4.10.2 Suppression of Instabilities and Energetic Ion Production 141
4.10.3 Hollow Cathode Discharge Characteristics 143
Problems 146
References 147
5 Ion Thruster Plasma Generators 155
5.1 Introduction 155
5.2 Idealized Ion Thruster Plasma Generator 157
5.3 DC Discharge Ion Thrusters 162
5.3.1 Generalized 0
About the author
Dan M. Goebel, PhD, is a Fellow and Senior Research Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Adjunct Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Electrical Engineering at UCLA. He is a Member of the National Academy of Engineering, and also a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the IEEE, the AIAA, and the American Physical Society. He is presently the Chief Engineer of the NASA Psyche Mission.
Ira Katz, PhD, is an Aerospace Consultant specializing in electric propulsion and spacecraft charging. He retired from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory after leading the Electric Propulsion group and researching electric propulsion physics. Previously, he worked in industry investigating spacecraft charging and headed the team that developed the NASA Charging Analyzer Program, NASCAP.
Ioannis G. Mikellides, PhD, is a Senior Research Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a Fellow of the AIAA. In the last three decades his research on the theory and numerical simulation of plasmas has spanned a wide range of applications, both in and beyond electric propulsion. He is also the main author of the scientific plasma codes OrCa2D and Hall2De, which have been supporting NASA's space flight qualification of hollow cathodes and Hall thrusters.
