An ion thruster (1) and a method for providing trust is disclosed. The ion thruster comprises a sputtering magnetron (2), a target (3) arranged at the sputtering magnetron, and a second electrode (4). During a first pulse, the target is at a negative potential (UHiP) with respect to a second electrode and a plasma is sustained whereby atoms are sputtered from the target and at least a portion thereof become ionised by the plasma. During a second pulse, a reversed potential (Urev) is applied between the target and the second electrode. This increases the potential of a volume of the plasma adjacent to the target, which in turn accelerates ions in a direction away from the target. Thereby, thrust is provided.The disclosure further relates to a computer program and a computer readable medium, as well as a spacecraft comprising the ion thruster.
ION THRUSTER AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING THRUST
IONENANTRIEB UND VERFAHREN ZUR ANTRIEBSBEREITSTELLUNG
PROPULSEUR IONIQUE ET PROCÉDÉ DE FOURNITURE DE POUSSÉE
2021-11-03
Patent
Electronic Resource
English