Investigation on plasma characteristics in a laser ablation pulsed plasma thruster by optical emission spectroscopy

Yu ZHANG (张宇); Jianjun WU (吴建军); Yang OU (欧阳); Daixian ZHANG (张代贤); Jian LI (李健)

doi:10.1088/2058-6272/ab5a8e

Plasma Science and Technology > 2020 > 22(4): 45501-045501. > DOI: 10.1088/2058-6272/ab5a8e

Yu ZHANG (张宇), Jianjun WU (吴建军), Yang OU (欧阳), Daixian ZHANG (张代贤), Jian LI (李健). Investigation on plasma characteristics in a laser ablation pulsed plasma thruster by optical emission spectroscopy[J]. Plasma Science and Technology, 2020, 22(4): 45501-045501. DOI: 10.1088/2058-6272/ab5a8e

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Investigation on plasma characteristics in a laser ablation pulsed plasma thruster by optical emission spectroscopy

¹ College of Aerospace Science and Engineering, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, People’s Republic of China
² China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center, Mianyang 621000, People’s Republic of China

Funds: The authors would like to thank National Natural Science Foundation of China for the financial assistance provided under the grant number 11772354 for this work.

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Received Date: September 05, 2019
Revised Date: November 20, 2019
Accepted Date: November 21, 2019

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Abstract

Abstract

In order to further improve the propulsion performance of pulsed plasma thrusters for space micro propulsion, a novel laser ablation pulsed plasma thruster is proposed, which separated the laser ablation and electromagnetic acceleration. Optical emission spectroscopy is utilized to investigate the plasma characteristics in the thruster. The spectral lines at different times, positions and discharge intensities are experimentally recorded, and the plasma characteristics in the discharge channel are concluded through analyzing the variation of spectral lines. With the discharge energy of 24 J, laser energy of 0.6 J and the use of aluminum propellant, the specific impulse and thrust efficiency reach 6808 s and 70.6%, respectively.
- laser ablation pulsed plasma thruster,
- optical emission spectroscopy,
- plasma,
- propulsion performance

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References (14)

References

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Investigation on plasma characteristics in a laser ablation pulsed plasma thruster by optical emission spectroscopy