Direct Thrust Measurement of Compact Hexapole ECR Thruster

Abstract

View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2022-3650.vid Demonstrated a new type of coaxial ECR thruster, the compact hexapole ECR ion thruster. Hexapole magnets and magnetic mirrors are used to build a small ECR ion thruster. The simulation results show that in the thruster axial direction and radial direction, the coverage of the ECR resonance surface is 100 % and 94 %, respectively. At present, the institution has completed and achieved good preliminary experimental results. It will be used in the ion generator of the ion thruster. The experimental results show that the thrust and specific impulse generated by the thruster at 100 W power and 2 sccm argon flow are T=1.172±0.086 mN and I_sp=2026 s, respectively. The discharge chamber pressure is 1E-3~1E-4 Torr. Thrust and specific impulses are more advantageous than conventional ECR thrusters. This article shows the direct thrust measurement method and experimental results of the compact hexapole ECR ion thruster.