California Institute of Technology

Ira Katz

Richard Robert Hofer

Dan M Goebel

Ryan W Conversano

Benjamin Alexander Jorns

John R Brophy

A low-power Hall thruster gains significantly improved efficiency by a combination of features, including a single piece, h-shaped magnetic screen which enables a more efficient internal volume utilization as well as optimal magnetic shielding; an internally mounted cathode with varying diameter further decreases the footprint of the thruster; an anode with multiple baffles connected by axially oriented holes generates a highly azimuthally uniform propellant flow.

Low-power hall thruster with an internally mounted low-current hollow cathode

A Hall thruster is configured to reduce or eliminate pole erosion by electrically tying the cathode to the thruster chassis body. The electrical connection controls the ion energy hence reducing erosion at the pole. In a different configuration, the cathode is biased by a power supply, allowing further control of the ion energy and the elimination of pole erosion, thus increasing the thruster's operational lifetime.

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Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Ira Katz