Effects of Segmented Electrode in Hall Current Plasma Thrusters
Authors: Y. Raitses, M. Keidar, D. Staack, and N.J. Fisch
Date of PPPL Report: December 2001
Published in: the Journal of Applied Physics 92 (November 2002) 4906-4911
Segmented electrodes with a low secondary electron emission are shown to alter significantly plasma flow in the ceramic channel of the Hall thruster. The location of the axial acceleration region relative to the magnetic field can be moved. The radial potential distribution can also be altered near the channel walls. A hydrodynamic model shows that these effects are consistent with a lower secondary electron emission of the segmented electrode as compared to ceramic channel walls.