Boltzmann expansion in a radiofrequency conical helicon thruster operating in xenon and argon
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چکیده
A low pressure (!0.5mTorr in xenon and !1mTorr in argon) Boltzmann expansion is experimentally observed on axis within a magnetized (60 to 180 G) radiofrequency (13.56 MHz) conical helicon thruster for input powers up to 900 W using plasma parameters measured with a Langmuir probe. The axial forces, respectively, resulting from the electron and magnetic field pressures are directly measured using a thrust balance for constant maximum plasma pressure and show a higher fuel efficiency for argon compared to xenon. VC 2013 AIP Publishing LLC. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4810001]
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تاریخ انتشار 2013