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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2006

Ion Beam Characterization of a NEXT Multi-Thruster Array Plume

Three operational, engineering model, 7-kW ion thrusters and one instrumented, dormant thruster were installed in a cluster array in a large vacuum facility at NASA Glenn Research Center. A series of engineering demonstration tests were performed to evaluate the system performance impacts of operating various multiple-thruster configurations in an array. A suite of diagnostics was installed to investigate multiple-thruster operation impact on thruster performance and life, thermal interactions, and alternative system modes and architectures. The ion beam characterization included measuring ion current density profiles and ion energy distribution with Faraday probes and retarding potential analyzers, respectively. This report focuses on the ion beam characterization during single thruster operation, multiple thruster operation, various neutralizer configurations, and thruster gimbal articulation. Comparison of beam profiles collected during single and multiple thruster operation demonstrated the utility of superimposing single engine beam profiles to predict multi-thruster beam profiles. High energy ions were detected in the region 45 off the thruster axis, independent of thruster power, number of operating thrusters, and facility background pressure, which indicated that the most probable ion energy was not effected by multiple-thruster operation. There were no significant changes to the beam profiles collected during alternate thruster-neutralizer configurations, therefore supporting the viability of alternative system configuration options. Articulation of one thruster shifted its beam profile, whereas the beam profile of a stationary thruster nearby did not change, indicating there were no beam interactions which was consistent with the behavior of a collisionless beam expansion.

Pencil, Eric J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Observations of the right-hand resonant ion beam instability in the distant plasma sheet boundary layer

Examples of the onset of a resonant ion beam instability are illustrated on the basis of ISEE 3 observations of 66 large amplitude wave events at the plasma sheet boundary layer. Analysis of the observational data showed that the observed wave and ion beam parameters were, in general, in agreement with linear theoretical predictions of resonant ion beam instability. The distribution of ion energies at the onset of the instability is given in a table.

Tsurutani, B. T.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Ion beam sputtering of fluoropolymers

Etching and deposition of fluoropolymers are of considerable industrial interest for applications dealing with adhesion, chemical inertness, hydrophobicity, and dielectric properties. This paper describes ion beam sputter processing rates as well as pertinent characteristics of etched targets and films. An argon ion beam source was used to sputter etch and deposit the fluoropolymers PTFE, FEP, and CTFE. Ion beam energy, current density, and target temperature were varied to examine effects on etch and deposition rates. The ion etched fluoropolymers yield cone or spire-like surface structures which vary depending upon the type of polymer, ion beam power density, etch time, and target temperature. Also presented are sputter target and film characteristics which were documented by spectral transmittance measurements, X-ray diffraction, ESCA, and SEM photomicrographs.

Sovey, J. S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Chemically assisted ion beam etching of polycrystalline and (100)tungsten

A chemically assisted ion-beam etching technique is described which employs an ion beam from an electron-bombardment ion source and a directed flux of ClF3 neutrals. This technique enables the etching of tungsten foils and films in excess of 40 microns thick with good anisotropy and pattern definition over areas of 30 sq mm, and with a high degree of selectivity. (100) tungsten foils etched with this process exhibit preferred-orientation etching, while polycrystalline tungsten films exhibit high etch rates. This technique can be used to pattern the dispenser cathode surfaces serving as electron emitters in traveling-wave tubes to a controlled porosity.

Garner, Charles↗
NASA NTRS1978

Ion beam divergence characteristics of three-grid accelerator systems

A comprehensive experimental investigation of the geometrical and operating conditions which affect most strongly the ion beam divergence of three-grid accelerator systems is presented. Three-grid accelerator systems are shown to offer significant improvements in ion beam focusing over two-grid accelerator systems. These improvements are greatest for low, but limited, net-to-total accelerating voltage ratio ranges and small screen-to-accelerator grid separation ratios (i.e., high perveance grid sets). Ion beam focusing gains are negligible at a net-to-total accelerating voltage ratio near unity. Low decelerator grid impingement currents and low ion beam divergence angles require that the decelerator hole diameter be about twenty five percent larger than the accelerator hole diameter, also that the decelerator grid be spaced as close as is practically possible to the accelerator grid.

Aston, G.↗
NASA NTRS2015

The Importance of the Cathode Plume and Its Interactions with the Ion Beam in Numerical Simulations of Hall Thrusters

Hall2De is a first-principles, 2-D axisymmetric code that solves the equations of motion for ions, electrons, and neutrals on a magnetic-field-aligned grid. The computational domain downstream of the acceleration channel exit plane is large enough to include self-consistently the cathode boundary. In this paper, we present results from numerical simulations of the H6 laboratory thruster with an internally mounted cathode, with the aim of highlighting the importance of properly accounting for the interactions between the ion beam and cathode plume. The anomalous transport of electrons across magnetic field lines in Hall2De is modelled using an anomalous collision frequency, νanom, yielding νanom approximately equal to omega ce (i.e., the electron cyclotron frequency) in the plume. We first show that restricting the anomalous collision frequency to only regions where the current density of ions is large does not alter the plasma discharge in the Hall thruster as long as the interaction between the ion beam and the cathode plume is captured properly in the computational domain. This implies that the boundary conditions must be placed sufficiently far as to not interfere with the electron transport in this region. These simulation results suggest that electron transport across magnetic field lines occurs largely inside the beam and may be driven by the interactions between beam ions and electrons. A second finding that puts in relevance the importance of including the cathode plume in numerical simulations is on the significance of accounting for the ion acoustic turbulence (IAT), now known to occur in the vicinity of the cathode exit. We have included in the Hall2De simulations a model of the IAT-driven anomalous collision frequency based on Sagdeev's model for saturation of the ion-acoustic instability. This implementation has allowed us to achieve excellent agreement with experimental measurements in the near plume obtained during the operation of the H6 thruster at nominal conditions (300V, 20A) and chamber background pressure of approximately 1.5 x 10(exp -5) Torr. In addition, the numerical results obtained with the latter approach exhibit less sensitivity to background pressure than previous attempts at explaining the features of the plasma properties in the near plume.

Lopez Ortega, Alejandro↗
NASA NTRS1991

Ion beam sputtering in electric propulsion facilities

Experiments were undertaken to determine sputter yields of potential ion beam target materials, to assess the impact of charge exchange on beam diagnostics in large facilities, and to examine material erosion and deposition after a 957 hr test of a 5 kW-class ion thruster. The xenon ion sputter yield of flexible graphite was lower than other graphite forms especially at high angles of incidence. Ion beam charge exchange effects were found to hamper beam probe current collection diagnostics even at pressures from 0.7 to 1.7 mPa. Estimates of the xenon ion beam envelope were made and predictions of the thickness of sputter deposited coatings in the facility were compared with measurements.

Sovey, James S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Ion beam sputtering in electric propulsion facilities

Experiments were undertaken to determine sputter yields of potential ion beam target materials, to assess the impact of charge exchange on beam diagnostics in large facilities, and to examine material erosion and deposition after a 957-hour test of a 5 kW-class ion thruster. The xenon ion sputter yield of flexible graphite was lower than other graphite forms especialy at high angles of incidence. Ion beam charge exchange effects were found to hamper beam probe current collection diagnostics even at pressures from 0.7 to 1.7 mPa. Estimates of the xenon ion beam envelope were made and predictions of the thickness of sputter deposited coatings in the facility were compared with measurements.

Sovey, James S.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Ion beam texturing

A microscopic surface texture is created by sputter etching a surface while simultaneously sputter depositing a lower sputter yield material onto the surface. A xenon ion beam source has been used to perform this texturing process on samples as large as three centimeters in diameter. Ion beam textured surface structures have been characterized with SEM photomicrographs for a large number of materials including Cu, Al, Si, Ti, Ni, Fe, Stainless steel, Au, and Ag. Surfaces have been textured using a variety of low sputter yield materials - Ta, Mo, Nb, and Ti. The initial stages of the texture creation have been documented, and the technique of ion beam sputter removal of any remaining deposited material has been studied. A number of other texturing parameters have been studied such as the variation of the texture with ion beam power, surface temperature, and the rate of texture growth with sputter etching time.

Hudson, W. R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Characteristics of the ULF waves associated with upstream ion beams

A new class of upstream wave is reported with relatively high frequencies of about 1 Hz and small amplitudes compared to the more common larger amplitude, low-frequency (0.03 Hz) upstream wave. The waves were first noted in association with beams of ions reflected back upstream at the bowshock, and although beam presence appears to be a necessary condition for the observation of the waves, it is not a sufficient condition for the existence of the waves. Magnetometer measurements are used to determine intrinsic properties of the waves, and simultaneous two point measurements are used to calculate and eliminate Doppler shifting effects. Results indicate that the waves are right-hand elliptically polarized whistler mode waves with plasma rest frame frequencies of about 20-100 times the proton gyrofrequency and wavelengths of about 100 km.

Hoppe, M. M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Transfer Casting From Ion-Beam-Textured Surfaces

Textured surfaces created on metals, ceramics, and polymers. Electron-bombardment ion thrustor used as neutralized-ion-beam source. Beam of directed, energetic ions alter surface chemistry and/or morphology of many materials. By adjusting ion energy and ion-beam current density impinging upon target, precise surface modifications obtained without risk of targetmaterial melting or bulk decomposition. Technique developed to generate precise, controllable, surface microstructures on metals, ceramics, and polymers.

Banks, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Broadband electrostatic noise produced by ion beams in the earth's magnetotail

Spacecraft observations in the earth's magnetotail at distances of 30 to 40 R(E) have revealed the presence of broadband electrostatic waves. These waves are generally most intense in the regions just outside of the plasma sheet and are correlated with the observations of relatively cold and energetic ion beams traveling in either the earthward or the tailward direction. These waves are observed to propagate obliquely to the geomagnetic field with wave normal angles around 70 deg. Because the broadband electrostatic noise is the most intense of the waves observed in the magnetotail, it is important to understand the generation mechanism of these waves. The purpose of this study is to provide for the first time a correct solution to the dispersion equation for ion beams observed in the magnetotail. By numerically solving this equation, it is shown that obliquely propagating waves have growth rates that can be an order of magnitude larger than those of parallel propagating waves, in agreement with observations. In addition, the effect of beam temperature on the ion beam instability is studied, and it is shown that this instability can be a viable generation mechanism only when the ion beam has a relatively small thermal spread.

Omidi, N.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Plasma waves produced by the xenon ion beam experiment on the Porcupine sounding rocket

The production of electrostatic ion cyclotron waves by a perpendicular ion beam in the F-region ionosphere is described. The ion beam experiment was part of the Porcupine program and produced electrostatic hydrogen cyclotron waves just above harmonics of the hydrogen cyclotron frequency. The plasma process may be thought of as a magnetized background ionosphere through which an unmagnetized beam is flowing. The dispersion equation for this hypothesis is constructed and solved. Preliminary solutions agree well with the observed plasma waves.

Kintner, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Ion-beam focusing in a double-plasma device

The authors studied the propagation of a low-energy charge-neutralized ion beam injected into the target region of a long double-plasma device. A magnetic field of up to about 180 G may be applied along the axis of the device. As a result of charge exchange collisions, the ion beam is attenuated as it propagates into the target region. However, under certain conditions of magnetic field strength and neutral gas pressure, the authors have observed a `reemergence' of the beam on axis far downstream in the target. This reemergence of the ion beam is attributed to a focusing of the ions by a self-consistently produced radial ambipolar electric field. The effect may be expected to occur in other types of plasma devices as well, whenever a sufficiently large radially inward electric field is present.

Johnson, James C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Electrostatic ion (hydrogen) cyclotron and ion acoustic wave instabilities in regions of upward field-aligned current and upward ion beams

An investigation is made into the stability of electrostatic hydrogen ion cyclotron and ion acoustic waves in a model plasma where an ion beam, population 2, and oppositely directed drifting electrons pass through a stationary ion background, population 1. The excited wave properties are then compared with the characteristics of the unstable modes observed on the S3-3 satellite. Three temperature regimes are studied: (1) Te greater than Ti2 much greater than Ti1, (2) Ti2 greater than Te not less than Ti1, and (3) Te approximately equal to Ti1 greater than Ti2. It is found that the ion beam acts as a free energy source only in regime 1. This regime is also highly unstable to the electrons as a free energy source. Unstable modes in regimes 2 and 3 seem to best satisfy the electrostatic hydrogen cyclotron wave (EHC) properties at 1 earth radius. For these cases the electrons are the free energy source, the beam supplies damping.

Bergmann, R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Optical and electrical properties of ion beam textured Kapton and Teflon

Results are given for ion beam texturing of polyimide (Kapton) and fluorinated ethylene propylene (Teflon) by means of a 30-cm diam electron bombardment argon ion source. Ion beam-textured Kapton and Teflon surfaces are evaluated for various beam energies, current densities, and exposure times. The optical properties and sheet resistance are measured after each exposure. Provided in the paper are optical spectral data, resistivity measurements, calculated absorptance and emittance measurements, and surface structure SEM micrographs for various exposures to argon ions. It is found that Kapton becomes conducting and Teflon nonconducting when ion beam-textured. Textured Kapton exhibits large changes in the transmittance and solar absorptance, but only slight changes in reflectance. Surface texturing of Teflon may allow better adherence of subsequent sputtered metallic films for a high absorptance value. The results are valuable in spacecraft charging applications.

Mirtich, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Optical and scratch resistant properties of diamondlike carbon films deposited with single and dual ion beams

Amorphous diamondlike carbon (DLC) films were deposited using both single and dual ion beam techniques utilizing filament and hollow cathode ion sources. Continuous DLC films up to 3000 A thick were deposited on fused quartz plates. Ion beam process parameters were varied in an effort to create hard, clear films. Total DLC film absorption over visible wavelengths was obtained using a Perkin-Elmer spectrophotometer. An ellipsometer, with an Ar-He laser (wavelength 6328 A) was used to determine index of refraction for the DLC films. Scratch resistance and frictional and adherence properties were determined for select films. Applications for these films range from military to the ophthalmic industries.

Kussmaul, Michael T.↗