Local plasma properties in a Hall-current accelerator with an extended acceleration zone

Abstract

Detailed measurements have been made of the axial and radial ion currents, the electron temperature, and the plasma potential in a Hall-current plasma accelerator with an extended acceleration zone. Plane Langmuir probes are used. The results give a detailed picture of the processes which occur in the accelerator channel. The results indicate the effectiveness of the accelerator as an ion source and show how the electron temperature, the ionization rate, and the potential distribution are related. Calculations of the particle and energy balance in the accelerator channel are described.