NVESTIGATION OF THE INPUT IONIZATION CHAMBER OF A TWO-STAGE PLASMA ACCELERATOR

Within the framework of the federal project “Development of controlled fusion technologies and innovative plasma technologies”, Troitsk Institute for Innovation and Fusion Research (TRINITI) is working on the creation of a prototype plasma rocket thruster based on a two-stage quasi-stationary high-current plasma accelerator where the processes of propellant preliminary ionization and final high-speed flow formation are separated. The discharge characteristics of the input ionization chamber were determined when using hydrogen and helium as a propellant in the relevant flow range of 1.5–3 mg per pulse, on the basis of which recommended values of specific energy input in the range of 2.2–2.6 kJ/mg for H2 and 1.2–1.6 kJ/mg for He were established. The plasma temperature estimation for hydrogen at 0.8 eV is consistent with the measured plasma flow velocity of 16 ± 3 km/s. The conversion coefficient of the input electrical energy into the plasma flow energy was 65% in the entire studied range. The results obtained make it possible to predict the electrical discharge characteristics, cooling requirements and erosion rate for the first stage of a plasma rocket thruster.