Influences of coupling magnetic field of 2 cm electron cyclotron resonance ion thruster on plume neutralization

Abstract

An electron cyclotron resonance ion thruster (ECRIT) has advantages of long service life and simple structure. The external coupling magnetic field of the ECRIT is one of factors that influences the plume neutralization process and coupling voltage of the neutralizer. The coupling magnetic field varies with the installation direction of the ion source and neutralizer as well as the direction of the internal magnetic pole. Calculating the distribution law of the coupling magnetic field and experimentally studying the influence of the coupling magnetic field on plume neutralization are very important. This paper focuses on two power rates and two flow rates of the ion source and conducts experiments on neutralization within the acceleration voltage range of 350 to 1 450 V to study the influence of changes in the direction and position of the ion source and the influence of the neutralizer′s magnetic pole on the ion beam extraction and maximum coupling voltage. The results indicate that the ion beam extraction is not influenced by the direction of the magnetic pole and the installation direction of the ion source and neutralizer. When the ion source is installed relatively perpendicular to the neutralizer, its coupling voltage is reduced. At the same time, changing the direction of the magnetic pole of the neutralizer into the opposite of the direction of the magnetic pole of the ion source also reduces the coupling voltage of the neutralizer. When the ion source is installed perpendicular to the magnetic pole of the neutralizer in the opposite direction, the coupling voltage is the lowest.