Inventors:
Max E. Light - Los Alamos NM, US
Patrick L. Colestock - Santa Fe NM, US
Assignee:
U.S. Department of Energy - Washington DC
International Classification:
F03H 1/00
Abstract:
An electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) thruster is disclosed having a plasma chamber which is electrically biased with a positive voltage. The chamber bias serves to efficiently accelerate and expel the positive ions from the chamber. Electrons follow the exiting ions, serving to provide an electrically neutral exhaust plume. In a further embodiment, a downstream shaping magnetic field serves to further accelerate and/or shape the exhaust plume.
