Statistics – Applications
Scientific paper
Jan 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002aipc..608..433w&link_type=abstract
SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL FORUM- STAIF 2002. Conference on Thermophyiscs in Microgravity; Conference on In
Statistics
Applications
3
Ion And Plasma Propulsion, Spaceborne And Space Research Instruments, Apparatus, And Components, Particle Emission, Solar Wind
Scientific paper
Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion (M2P2) seeks the creation of a magnetic wall or bubble (i.e. a magnetosphere) attached to a spacecraft that will intercept the solar wind and thereby provide high-speed propulsion with little expenditure of propellant. The prototype uses a helicon source embedded asymmetrically in a dipole-like magnetic field. Breakdown of the plasma can be produced at high densities 1012-1013 cm-3 with a temperature of several eV. The plasma pressure is sufficient to cause the outward expansion or inflation of the mini-magnetosphere. This expansion has now been measured directly by magnetic field probes. Computer simulations of the laboratory geometry show the presence of magnetic field perturbations that have similar magnitude and temporal variations as seen in the experiments. The field line mapping from the model has similar features to the optical images taken during laboratory prototype. The agreement between the laboratory experiments and the computer simulations provide quantitative evidence that inflation of a dipole field can be achieved in the laboratory, essentially all the way out to the chamber walls which in the large chamber experiments corresponds to several tens of magnet radii. The operation characteristics of the prototype are consistent with the initial simulations that indicated that if such a device were operated in space then it could produce a mini-magnetosphere of the order of about 15-20 km. Such a mini-magnetosphere would experience 1-3 N of thrust from the solar wind, while requiring on 1-2 kWe of power to sustain the mini-magnetosphere. .
Euripides P.
Slough John
Winglee Robert M.
Ziemba Tim
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