Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Ecole Polytechnique

Astrium Sas

Airbus Defence and Space Sas

Pascal Chabert

Ane Aanesland

Stéphane Mazouffre

Albert Meige

Michael Irzyk

Gary Leray

A plasma thruster includes extraction of a stream of positive ions. The plasma thruster includes a single ionization stage; injecting ionizable gas for said ionization stage comprising injecting a first gas and an electronegative second gas; creating an RF electric field to cause the gases to ionize in the ionization stage creating a first zone called the hot zone, in the ionization stage; the first gas being distributed in the hot first zone, the second gas being distributed in a second zone less hot than said first zone; extracting a stream of negative ions and a stream of positive ions, these being both connected to the ionization stage; and the extraction of a stream of positive ions and the extraction of a stream of negative ions, ensuring that the thruster is electrically neutral.

Electronegative plasma thruster with optimized injection

A plasma motor for extracting a positive ion flow has a single ionization stage and a device for supplying the ionization stage with an ionizable electronegative gas. The plasma motor further has a device for creating an electric field so as to produce the ionization of the gas in the ionization stage. The device for creating the electric filed includes a device for extracting a negative ion flow and, a device for extracting a positive ion flow, connected to the ionization stage. The extraction of a positive ion flow and the extraction of a negative ion flow are of the same amplitude, ensuring the electrical neutrality of the motor. The extraction of a positive ion flow and the extraction of a negative ion flow allow the neutrality of the motor to be ensured.

Electronegative plasma motor

The invention relates to a method and device for forming a plasma beam. According to the invention: the quality of the electroneutrality of the plasma beam (PB) is detected (inand/or); and the alternating polarization potentials of the extraction and acceleration grid () are adjusted such that the plasma beam (PB) is at least approximately electrically neutral.

Method and device for forming a plasma beam

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Paris, France

Pascal Chabert