A Laser-Induced-Fluorescence study on a cluster of two 100 W Hall thrusters
Résumé
Clustering offers multiple benefits compared to a single large thruster: a wider operating range since thrusters can be fired individually or in combination, a reduced cost due to the mass production of thrusters, an increased redundancy in case of a thruster failure, and enhanced thrust vectoring capabilities based on thruster arrangement. A significant operational factor is the physical interaction between the ion beam produced by each thruster. This interaction, which remains poorly understood, significantly affects thruster performance and the spacecraft environment. In this study, we experimentally investigate the interaction between the plasma plumes in a cluster of two 100 W xenon-fed Hall thrusters using Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy on singly-charged metastable Xe$^+$ ions. These preliminary experiments clearly reveal plume overlap and ion invasion.
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