A Torsion-Coupled Gridded Ion Engine: Beam Voltage, Thrust and Power for a Xenon Drive

This paper presents a complete design study of a torsion-coupled gridded ion engine using xenon propellant, computed throughout from stated assumptions. At a grid voltage of 1200 V and a polarised fraction of one half, the beam velocity reaches 51446 m per second against 41997 m per second unpolarised, a gain of 22.5 percent, giving a specific impulse of 5246 s, a thrust of 257.23 mN at the reference mass flow, and a jet power of 6616.7 W. At full polarisation and 2000 V the beam velocity reaches 78615 m per second. Every figure is a computed result of the stated model and nothing was built or tested: the study is SIMULATED, NOT MEASURED, and its limits are stated as plainly as its performance.