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US 2020/0072200 A1Published application
High-efficiency ion discharge method and apparatus
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsRichard E. Wirz, Ben Dankongkakul
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Abstract
An ion beam generator includes a discharge chamber with a backplate and tubular sidewalk A source of propellant, for example, Xenon gas is provided to the discharge chamber. First and second annular magnets are disposed on or near the backplate, and configured with alternating polarities such that a pair of ring-cusps form on the backplate, without any magnetic ring-cusp formation on the sidewalk A cathode assembly extends into the discharge chamber to provide primary electrons to ionize the propellant.
Claims28
An ion beam generator comprising:
- a discharge chamber having a first end and an outflow end, the discharge chamber comprising a backplate at the first end and a tubular sidewall;
- a source of propellant connected to provide propellant to the discharge chamber;
- a first annular magnet and a second annular magnet, wherein the first and second annular magnets each have a first pole face adjacent to or narrowly spaced from the backplate and an opposite pole face oriented away from the backplate, and wherein the first and second annular magnets are configured with opposing polarity such that they generate a magnetic field in the discharge chamber defining at least two ring-cusps at the backplate;
- a cathode assembly extending into the discharge chamber and configured to provide primary electrons to the discharge chamber;
- and
- an extraction grid disposed at the outflow end of the discharge chamber;
- wherein the ion beam generator does not include any magnet configured to form a magnetic ring-cusp at the sidewall.
4 more elements
An ion thruster comprising:
- a discharge chamber having a first end and an outflow end, the discharge chamber comprising a backplate at the first end and a tubular sidewall;
- a source of propellant connected to provide propellant to the discharge chamber;
- a first annular magnet and a second annular magnet, wherein the first and second annular magnets each have a first pole face adjacent to or narrowly spaced from the backplate and an opposite pole face oriented directly away from the backplate, and wherein the first and second annular magnets are configured with opposing polarity such that they generate a magnetic field in the discharge chamber defining at least two ring-cusps at the backplate;
- an annular electrode disposed in the discharge chamber and insulated from the backplate;
- a cathode assembly extending into the discharge chamber and configured to provide primary electrons to the discharge chamber;
- and
- an extraction grid assembly disposed at the outflow end of the discharge chamber;
- wherein the ion beam generator does not include any magnet configured to form a magnetic ring-cusp at the sidewall.
5 more elements
An ion beam generator comprising:
- a discharge chamber having a first end and an outflow end, the discharge chamber comprising a backplate at the first end and a tubular sidewall;
- a source of propellant connected to provide propellant to the discharge chamber;
- a first annular magnet configured with one pole face adjacent to or narrowly spaced from the backplate and an opposite pole face facing away from the backplate such that the first annular magnet generates a magnetic field in the discharge chamber defining a ring-cusp at the backplate;
- a cathode assembly extending into the discharge chamber and configured to provide primary electrons to the discharge chamber;
- and
- an extraction grid disposed at the outflow end of the discharge chamber;
- wherein the ion beam generator does not include any magnet configured to form a magnetic ring-cusp along the sidewall.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.