Igniter system for use with electric propulsion systems

An electric propulsion system, comprising:

• an igniter system, comprising
• an igniter comprising
• a first electrically conducting electrode,
• a second electrically conducting electrode, and
• an electrically insulating layer sandwiched between the first and the second electrically conducting electrodes, and
• a voltage pulse generator electrically coupled to the first and the second electrically conducting electrodes and adapted to generate a plurality of pulses each with sufficient voltage to cause a breakdown of the electrically insulating layer, thus causing an avalanche of electrons from one of the first and the second electrically conducting electrodes to the other thereby generating a cloud of plasma near the igniter, the voltage pulse generator further adapted to limit energy transferred to the igniter in each of the plurality of pulses so as to minimize damage to the igniter;
• and
• a burner disposed to receive and ignite the cloud of plasma and eject the burned plasma at high rate of speed out of the burner.

A method of generating plasma for an electric propulsion system, comprising:

• providing a plurality of voltage pulses to an igniter by a voltage pulse generator, the igniter comprising
• a first electrically conducting electrode,
• a second electrically conducting electrode, and
• an electrically insulating layer sandwiched between the first and the second electrically conducting electrodes;
• and
• wherein the voltage pulse generator electrically coupled to the first and the second electrically conducting electrodes and adapted to generate a plurality of pulses each with sufficient voltage to cause a breakdown of the electrically insulating layer, thus causing an avalanche of electrons from one of the first and the second electrically conducting electrodes to the other, the voltage pulse generator further adapted to limit energy transferred to the igniter in each of the plurality of pulses so as to minimize damage to the igniter.