Segmented wall-less hall thruster

A segmented wall-less Hall thruster having an axial axis;

• the segmented wall-less Hall thruster comprising:
• an anode configured to function as a gas distributor;
• a cathode;
• and
• an insulator and an additional electrode that each circumscribe the axial axis and are concentric with the anode about axial axis, wherein the insulator has a first surface, the first surface having a first surface radially inner portion and a first surface radially outer portion separated radially from each other by a recess therebetween, the recess extending into the first surface in an axially upstream direction, wherein the first surface, the first surface radially inner portion, the first surface radially outer portion and the recess each circumscribe the axial axis and are concentric with the anode about the axial axis;
• wherein the anode is inserted into the recess so that a portion of the anode is axially upstream of the first surface, wherein a downstream-most surface of the anode is coplanar with or protrudes axially downstream of the first surface,
• wherein the additional electrode is separated from the anode radially by the first surface radially inner portion or the first surface radially outer portion,
• wherein the anode and the additional electrode are configured to be held at different electrical potentials,
• wherein the segmented wall-less Hall thruster generates ions during operation so as to provide thrust,
• wherein a power supply applies a voltage to the additional electrode such that the additional electrode focuses the ions and increase the thrust while reducing power consumption thereby increasing an operating efficiency of the segmented wall-less Hall thruster.