微型射频离子推力器自中和引出特性研究

Neutralizer-free extraction characteristics of micro RF ion thruster

本文基于自行研制的微型射频离子推力器BHRIT-4,针对其自中和引出束流形貌特性、外电路特性和束流离子能量特性开展了研究工作。研究结果表明,推力器在自中和引出模式下,自中和引出束流区亮度高,存在强烈电子激发反应,羽流区平均悬浮电势维持在1.19 V;射频自偏压与引出功率不呈正相关关系,存在最佳引出功率值以实现最大射频自偏压,最大射频自偏压超过300 V;自中和引出束流的离子能量分布函数不服从高斯分布且展宽较大,部分工况下存在双峰信号。

Based on the self-developed miniature RF ion thruster BHRIT-4,the research on characteristics of neutralizer-free extraction has been carried out,including extraction beam profile,external circuit and beam ion energy.The research results indicate that in the neutralizer-free extraction mode,the brightness of the neutralizer-free extraction beam region is high and there is a strong electron excitation reaction in this region,the average float potential in the plume region is maintained at 1.19 V.The RF self-bias voltage is not positively correlated with the output power,and there is an optimal output power value to achieve maximum RF self-bias voltage,with a maximum value exceeding 300 V.The ion energy distribution function(IEDF)of the neutralizer-free extraction beam does not follow the Gaussian distribution and has a large broadening,and there is bimodal signal under some conditions.