Physics – Plasma Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufmsm53a1364l&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #SM53A-1364
Physics
Plasma Physics
[7823] Space Plasma Physics / Ionization Processes, [7831] Space Plasma Physics / Laboratory Studies And Experimental Techniques, [7835] Space Plasma Physics / Magnetic Reconnection, [7846] Space Plasma Physics / Plasma Energization
Scientific paper
The Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR®) is an electric propulsion system under development at Ad Astra Rocket Company that utilizes several processes of ion acceleration and heating that occur in the Birkeland currents of an auroral arc system. Among these processes are parallel electric field acceleration, lower hybrid resonance heating, and ion cyclotron resonance heating. The VASIMR® is capable of laboratory simulation of electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave heating during a single pass of ions through the resonance region. The plasma is generated by a helicon discharge of 35 kW then passes through a 176 kW RF booster stage that couples left hand polarized slow mode waves from the high field side of the resonance. VX-200 auroral simulation results from the past year are discussed. Ambipolar acceleration has been shown to produce 35eV argon ions in the helicon exhaust. The effects on the ion exhaust with an addition of 150-200 kW of ion cyclotron heating are presented. The changes to the VASIMR® experiment at Ad Astra Rocket Company's new facility in Webster, Texas will also be discussed, including the possibility of collaborative experiments.
Bering Edgar A.
Brukardt M. S.
Chang Díaz F.
Longmier B. W.
Squire John
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