Cathode erosion studies on MPD thrusters

Abstract

The fundamental processes occurring at the cathode interphase of magnetoplasma dynamic (MPD) arcs and their consequences on material erosion are by no means fully understood, despite the great many publications in this field on various different arc types of similar conditions. This paper presents the results of a cathode erosion study on an MPD arc thruster under pulsed and steady-state operating modes and, moreover, gives an explanation of the cathode attachment mechanisms for both operating modes.