Investigation of stabilized resonant cavity microwave plasmas for propulsion

Philip Balaam; Michael M. Micci

doi:10.2514/3.23932

Investigation of stabilized resonant cavity microwave plasmas for propulsion

Philip Balaam, Michael M. Micci

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Results are presented for the performance of a microwave electrothermal thruster utilizing bluff-body and swirling flow stabilized plasmas with helium and nitrogen propellent. Stabilized plasmas have been produced in the TM01, electromagnetic cavity mode with coupling efficiencies approaching 100% and specific powers up to 27.3 MJ/kg. Fluid dynamic measurements indicate specific impulses of up to 543 s, efficiencies of 44-69%, and thrusts of 0.27—0.40 N with helium propellant. Spectroscopic results indicate plasma core electron temperatures of 11, 840-12, 170 K with extremely flat radial profiles.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1021-1027
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Propulsion and Power
Volume	11
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2514/3.23932
State	Published - Sep 1995

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Aerospace Engineering
Fuel Technology
Mechanical Engineering
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.2514/3.23932

Cite this

@article{875d8578f36842e58ff225ce803ba2f3,

title = "Investigation of stabilized resonant cavity microwave plasmas for propulsion",

abstract = "Results are presented for the performance of a microwave electrothermal thruster utilizing bluff-body and swirling flow stabilized plasmas with helium and nitrogen propellent. Stabilized plasmas have been produced in the TM01, electromagnetic cavity mode with coupling efficiencies approaching 100% and specific powers up to 27.3 MJ/kg. Fluid dynamic measurements indicate specific impulses of up to 543 s, efficiencies of 44-69%, and thrusts of 0.27—0.40 N with helium propellant. Spectroscopic results indicate plasma core electron temperatures of 11, 840-12, 170 K with extremely flat radial profiles.",

author = "Philip Balaam and Micci, {Michael M.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Grant AFOSR-89-0312.",

year = "1995",

month = sep,

doi = "10.2514/3.23932",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "11",

pages = "1021--1027",

journal = "Journal of Propulsion and Power",

issn = "0748-4658",

publisher = "American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc. (AIAA)",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Investigation of stabilized resonant cavity microwave plasmas for propulsion

AU - Balaam, Philip

AU - Micci, Michael M.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Grant AFOSR-89-0312.

PY - 1995/9

Y1 - 1995/9

N2 - Results are presented for the performance of a microwave electrothermal thruster utilizing bluff-body and swirling flow stabilized plasmas with helium and nitrogen propellent. Stabilized plasmas have been produced in the TM01, electromagnetic cavity mode with coupling efficiencies approaching 100% and specific powers up to 27.3 MJ/kg. Fluid dynamic measurements indicate specific impulses of up to 543 s, efficiencies of 44-69%, and thrusts of 0.27—0.40 N with helium propellant. Spectroscopic results indicate plasma core electron temperatures of 11, 840-12, 170 K with extremely flat radial profiles.

AB - Results are presented for the performance of a microwave electrothermal thruster utilizing bluff-body and swirling flow stabilized plasmas with helium and nitrogen propellent. Stabilized plasmas have been produced in the TM01, electromagnetic cavity mode with coupling efficiencies approaching 100% and specific powers up to 27.3 MJ/kg. Fluid dynamic measurements indicate specific impulses of up to 543 s, efficiencies of 44-69%, and thrusts of 0.27—0.40 N with helium propellant. Spectroscopic results indicate plasma core electron temperatures of 11, 840-12, 170 K with extremely flat radial profiles.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029376156&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0029376156&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.2514/3.23932

DO - 10.2514/3.23932

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0029376156

SN - 0748-4658

VL - 11

SP - 1021

EP - 1027

JO - Journal of Propulsion and Power

JF - Journal of Propulsion and Power

IS - 5

ER -

Investigation of stabilized resonant cavity microwave plasmas for propulsion

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this