Antenna Configuration Effects on Thrust Performance of Miniature Microwave Discharge Ion Engine

Abstract

e = electronic charge F = thrust g = acceleration of gravity Ib = extracted ion beam current Isp = specific impulse mi = ion mass ṁi = mass flow rate for ion source ṁn = mass flow rate for neutralizer Pi = incident microwave power Pn = input power for neutralizer Pr = reflected microwave power Vb = beam voltage α = doubly charged ion current to singly charged ion current ratio γT = thrust coefficient ec = ion beam production cost ηt = thrust efficiency ηu = propellant utilization θb = beam divergence angle