Ignition process for narrow channel hall thruster

A narrow channel Hall thruster comprising:

• a thruster body, and a neutralizing cathode positioned externally thereto and configured for electron emission, the thruster body comprising:
• a magnetic circuit comprising a magnetic field source and two annularly shaped magnetic poles;
• an annular thruster channel formed by the annularly shaped magnetic poles and characterized by a first extremity having a first channel width, and a second extremity having a second channel width, the second channel width being less than 3 mm, and the first channel width being greater than the second channel width;
• an annular anode positioned in the vicinity of the first extremity of the annular thruster channel;
• a gas distributor configured to release a propellant gas into the thruster channel in the vicinity of the anode;
• wherein the magnetic circuit is configured to generate a magnetic field in the annular thruster channel, such that electrons are substantially confined therewithin;
• and
• wherein walls of the channel are electrically biased with respect to the anode, to generate a substantially axial electric field along the length of the channel, at or in the vicinity of the second extremity of the annular thruster channel.