Radio-frequency ion thruster with magnetic shielding of the discharge chamber walls

We presented the results of a computational study on optimizing the shape of the main elements of a radio-frequency ion thruster – the discharge chamber and the ion-extraction system grids. The possibility of improving the integral characteristics of thrusters and ion sources due to the use of an additional magnetostatic field in the RF discharge region was considered. The performed series of calculations made it possible to determine the optimal geometry of the discharge chamber and of the RIT ion-extraction system grids, as well as the configuration of the additional magnetic field, at which the best values of the integral characteristics were achieved.