NASA NTRS · 20060023311
High Power Light Gas Helicon Plasma Source for VASIMR
Abstract
In the Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory (ASPL) helicon experiment (VX-10) we have measured a plasma flux to input gas rate ratio near 100% for both helium and deuterium at power levels up to 10 kW. Recent results at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) show enhanced efficiency operation with a high power density, over 5 kW in a 5 cm diameter tube. Our helicon is presently 9 cm in diameter and operates up to 10 kW of input power. The data here uses a Boswell double-saddle antenna design with a magnetic cusp just upstream of the antenna. Similar to ORNL, for deuterium at near 10 kW, we find an enhanced performance of operation at magnetic fields above the lower hybrid matching condition.
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Squire, Jared P., Chang-Diaz, Franklin R., Glover, Timothy W., Jacobson, Verlin T., Baity, F. Wally, Carter, Mark D., Goulding, Richard H.. 2004-01-01. High Power Light Gas Helicon Plasma Source for VASIMR. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20060023311
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