The helicon double layer thruster hdlt is an electrode free radio frequency power driven device described in detail in reference. Plasma thruster tested for mars mission 3 january 2006 image. Description of the helicon double layer device based on most of the helicon double layer devices on the literature 45611, the hdlt helicon double layer thruster of unb has three types of magnetic coils containing 730, 912 and 710 loops of 3mm diameter 10 awg copper insulated. Helicontype radiofrequency plasma thrusters and magnetic. Pdf the performance of a helicon double layer thruster hdlt has been characterized using a pendulum type thrust stand and retarding field energy. Colombo, esa, marco manente, ivano musso, johan carlsson on. Lomonosov moscow state university, faculty of physics, moscow, russian federation.
Ions and electrons which enter the double layer are accelerated, decelerated, or reflected by the electric field. The helicon double layer thruster hdlt1,2, being developed as a new electrodeless space plasma engine with extended lifetime, will be presented. Helicon double layer thruster concept for high power nep. This concept was named the helicon double layer thruster hdlt. The present work is devoted to the investigation of the radiofrequency rf inductive discharge placed in an external magnetic field. Transport of ion beam in an annular magnetically expanding. After the ion beam exits the annular structure, it merges into a solid centrally peaked structure in the diffusion chamber. In this thruster design, gas is injected into a tubular chamber the source tube with one open end. Development of a helicon double layer thruster iopscience. A double layer is a structure in a plasma and consists of two parallel layers with opposite electrical charge. Transport of energetic electrons in a magnetically.
Undriven double layers observed in plasmas expanding along magnetic fields are the result of a sheath instability connected with the bohm criterion. The helicon double layer thruster, shown in figure 1, generates plasma using a helicon source and accelerates a high energy population of ions across a double layer 3,4. So far, there is no theoretical explanation for the formation. Jerry seitzman school of aerospace engineering georgia institute of technology dr. Division of space plasma power and propulsion cpf anu. Pdf this work describes the development of a helicon double layer thruster and its acquisition system at the university of brasilia plasma physics. Helicon double layer thruster hdlt operating inside a large volume spacesimulation vacuum chamber. Numerical simulation of the helicon double layer thruster concept final report cisas g. This new propulsion concept has the potential to propel humans to mars and beyond and greatly decrease the costs of maintaining satellites and spacecraft in. In a number of experiments, spontaneous ion accelerations due to formations of a currentfree double layer cfdl and ambipolar electric field are observed in helicon sources as described in sect.
Nonetheless, though a sudden potential drop cannot be seen, the ion acceleration is still there and can be seen downstream. The helicon double layer thruster hdlt concept is based on the recent discovery of a currentfree electric double layer dl in a helicon plasma expanding in a diverging magnetic field. The helicon doublelayer thruster is a prototype spacecraft propulsion engine. For monopropellant rockets that depend on a chemical reaction, the power for the propulsive reaction and resultant thrust is provided by the chemical itself. The plasma source of these thrusters is based on the helicon plasma discharge.
Numerical simulations of the helicon double layer thruster concept final report contractor cisas g. Testing a helicon double layer thruster immersed in a spacesimulation chamber. The hdlt is based on ion acceleration in a currentfree electric double layer resulting in the formation of an energetic ion beam with low divergence, as the source of thrust. That is, the energy needed to propel the spacecraft is contained within the. Electrostatic rf thrusters, such as the helicon double layer thruster hdlt3 and the neptune thruster,4 use both free standing dc and applied rf electric. Helicon double layer thruster concept for high power nep missions. Both the experiment and theory show that the operating range of the hdlt in xenon extends to lower pressure than for argon. Helicon double layer thruster sp3 has invented the worlds first helicon double layer thruster hdlt. It was created by australian scientist dr christine charles, based on a technology invented by professor rod boswell, both of the australian national university.
Diverging magnetic field lines cause the presheath acceleration of ions, causing a potential jump resembling that of a double layer. Ion acceleration mechanisms of helicon thrusters thesis committee. Understanding the physics which govern ion acceleration in each of these devices is important due to the implications on thruster performance. The helicon device employed is a cylindrical helicon of similar dimensions to the helicon double layer thruster. Preliminary investigation of electromagnetic thrust.
Pdf physical mechanism of currentfree double layers. It seems also possible to further develop the phenomenon to be used as a new form of space plasma propulsion. Testing a helicon double layer thruster immersed in a. Direct thrust measurement of a permanent magnet helicon. Pdf performance characterization of a helicon double layer. The thruster offers advantages compared to conventional ep technologies due to its simple design and inherent ion acceleration mechanism. Numerical simulation of the helicon double layer thruster. First performance measurements of the phase four rf thruster.
In the present thruster model, ions are accelerated in a potential drop of double layer appearing at the output of the thruster in the divergent magnetic field and due. Helicon double layer thruster concept the hdlt is a magnetoplasma thruster based upon the recent discovery of a currentfree electric double layer in an inductively coupled plasma that is driven by a helicon antenna, expanding in a. Pdf testing a helicon double layer thruster immersed in. Mitchell walker, advisor school of aerospace engineering georgia institute of technology dr. Direct thrust measurements of a permanent magnet helicon double layer thruster have been made using a pendulum thrust balance and a high sensitivity laser displacement sensor. Hdlt stands for helicon double layer thruster physics suggest new definition. Downstream flow analysis of highpower helicon double gun thruster nao murakami, robert winglee, b. An experimental investigation of alternative propellants. Temporal evolution of double layers in pulsed helicon plasmas. Xenon ion beam characterization in a helicon double layer.
A monopropellant rocket or monoprop rocket is a rocket that uses a single chemical as its propellant chemicalreaction monopropellant rockets. This definition appears somewhat frequently and is found in the following acronym finder categories. Preliminary investigation of electromagnetic thrust characteristics in electrodeless compact helicon plasma thruster by takahiro nakamura1. Walker, advisor associate professor school of aerospace engineering georgia institute of technology dr. Wilhite langley professor of the practice school of aerospace engineering georgia institute of technology dr.
Helicon plasma thrusters electric rocket propulsion society. Spatial evolution of an ion beam created by a geometrically expanding lowpressure argon plasma appl. Numerical simulation of the helicon double layer thruster concept final report loose leaf unbound edition no binder. It was created by australian scientist dr christine charles, based on a technology invented by professor rod boswell. The helicon double layer thruster hdlt is being developed in the space plasma, power and propulsion group led by professor christine charles at the research school of physics at the australian national university in canberra, australia. Suresh menon school of aerospace engineering georgia institute of technology dr.
A helicon doublelayer thruster hdlt is a type of plasma thruster, which ejects high velocity ionized gas to provide thrust to a spacecraft. The helicon double layer thruster hdlt concept is based on the recent discovery of a currentfree electric double layer dl in a helicon. The current free double layer in chi kung 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 p l a s m a p o t e n t i a l v v ion axial pump zcm double saddle field antenna energy analyser rfea glass plate 0 15 30 60 solenoids1. Investigation into the formation of dls and the related ionic and electronic behavior in one dimension have been performed experimentally,110 analytically,11 and through simulation. Performance characterization of a helicon double layer thruster using direct thrust measurements. Hdlt helicon double layer thruster physics acronymfinder. This new propulsion concept has the potential to propel humans to mars and beyond and greatly decrease the costs of maintaining satellites and spacecraft in their desired orbits. A compact permanentmagnet helicon thruster francis f.
Electrothermal rf thrusters, such as the phase four rft and electron. It was created by australian scientist dr christine charles, based on a technology. Helicon double layer thruster breakthrough in 2003, researchers at the australian national university in canberra created a plasma double layer in the laboratory. Plasma chemistry in space propulsion using the helicon. An ion beam generated by an annular double layer has been measured in a helicon thruster, which sustains a magnetised lowpressure 5. This work describes the development of a helicon double layer thruster and its acquisition system at the university of brasilia plasma physics laboratory.
Ion detachment in the helicon doublelayer thruster. Operating the helicon double layer thruster in a space simulation chamber ieee transactions on plasma science, vol. The satellite will incorporate dr charles helicon double layer thruster hdlt, which is not only an innovative electrodeless magneto plasma thruster but the first thruster of its kind in the world which will be applied to satellite station keeping and interplanetary space travel. Helicon double layer thruster performance enhancement via. To inanu to propose the helicon double layer thruster hdlt vestigate the temporal evolution of the ivdf, the dischargeconcept. Effect of exhaust magnetic field in a helicon doublelayer thruster operating in xenon ieee transactions on plasma science, vol. Effect of permanent magnets on plasma confinement and ion.
Facility effects on helicon thruster operation approved by. The sheets of charge cause a strong electric field and a correspondingly sharp change in voltage electrical potential across the double layer. The antenna is a copper boswelltype5,6 double saddle constructed of 12. Downstream flow analysis of highpower helicon double. Pdf performance characterization of a helicon double.
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