Multiple frequency electron cyclotron resonance thruster
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorsBenjamin Alexander Jorns, Benjamin Natan Wachs
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Abstract
An electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) thruster includes a magnetic field source configured to generate a magnetic field, a thruster body that defines a chamber, the thruster body being disposed relative to the magnetic field source such that the magnetic field is present in the chamber and such that a magnetic nozzle is established, an antenna configured to propagate radio frequency (RF) power within the chamber, and a waveform generator coupled to the antenna to generate an RF waveform for the RF power. The waveform generator is configured such that the RF waveform includes multiple frequencies.
Claims20
An electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) thruster comprising:
- a magnetic field source configured to generate a magnetic field;
- a thruster body that defines a chamber, the thruster body being disposed relative to the magnetic field source such that the magnetic field is present in the chamber and such that a magnetic nozzle is established;
- an antenna configured to propagate radio frequency (RF) power within the chamber;
- and
- a waveform generator coupled to the antenna to generate an RF waveform for the RF power;
- wherein the waveform generator is configured such that the RF waveform comprises multiple frequencies such that multiple resonance zones are established within the chamber to increase a volume of electron heating by the RF power.
An electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) thruster comprising:
- a magnetic field source configured to generate a magnetic field;
- a thruster body that defines a chamber, the thruster body being disposed relative to the magnetic field source such that the magnetic field is present in the chamber and such that a magnetic nozzle is established;
- an antenna configured to propagate radio frequency (RF) power within the chamber;
- and
- a waveform generator coupled to the antenna to generate an RF waveform for the RF power;
- wherein the waveform generator is configured such that the RF waveform comprises a first component at a first frequency and a second component at a second frequency, and
- wherein the first and second frequencies are offset from one another such that multiple resonance zones are established within the chamber to increase a volume of electron heating by the RF power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.