Release Time:2019-03-11  Hits:

Indexed by: Journal Article

Date of Publication: 2017-10-01

Journal: CONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS

Included Journals: SCIE

Volume: 57

Issue: 9

Page Number: 377-386

ISSN: 0863-1042

Key Words: discharge characteristics; electric propulsion; helicon plasma thruster; numerical simulation; wave-plasma interaction

Abstract: Helicon discharge is characterized by its high ionization efficiency. In order to obtain the desired density, the configuration design of the helicon discharge tube is carried out, and the discharge characteristics are then studied to explore the correlation between the plasma parameters and the input discharge parameters. Finite-length helicon discharge theory is employed to calculate the plasma resistance R-p, and then the optimal tube length L-s, the radius r(p), and the tube-antenna gap d are confirmed. The partial and energy loss mechanisms of the tube are investigated based on low-pressure discharge particle collision theory. The results show that, for a 10-cm-long Nagoya III type antenna, with a tube radius of 4cm and length of 20cm, the R-p versus n(e) curves have peak values at n(e) higher than 10(12)cm(-3) when the magnetic field intensity B(0)200G. We find that a local minimum of P-loss exists when p(0) is approximate to 1.5-3.0mTorr; meanwhile, the radial confinement reduces T-e and P-loss at constant p(0).