Stable plasma (SP) thrusters will potentially produce specific impulses of 60,000 seconds, compared to approximately 500 seconds for chemical propulsion systems. This new technology will potentially reduce the need for propellant more than 120 times, a possible improvement for space missions and for propulsion in air. The technology is based on the new discovery of an SP that needs no external magnetic field for containment. The SP is a hollow self-organized plasma with all its electrons spiraling in parallel paths in a thin outer shell. A similar amount of ions resides in a second shell internal to the electron shell ensuring the stable plasma is nearly charge neutral. The SP has an internally generated magnetic field that allows it to cross magnetic field lines, and potentially to be accelerated with magnetic fields. SP initiation and properties are summarized in the paper. Propulsion using the SP would not use combustion. Small SP’s are created with relatively low voltages and current, and then accelerated to high velocities for thrust using magnetic field pressure. A concept design of an SP thruster is presented in this paper.


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    Title :

    Propulsion using a stable plasma thruster


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Space Technology and Applications International Forum - 2001 ; 2001 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico


    Published in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 552 , 1 ; 950-956


    Publication date :

    2001-02-02


    Size :

    7 pages





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



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