An Experimental and Theoretical Study of Hollow Cathode Plume Mode Oscillations

The oscillations associated with the onset of “plume mode” in a hollow cathode are analytically and experimentally characterized. An analytical model for the plume mode oscillation that is driven by the onset of ion acoustic turbulence in the hollow cathode plume is derived from first principles. This model predicts that the plume mode oscillation should have an acoustic dispersion relation. The dispersion relation of the cathode plume mode was measured experimentally using a high-speed camera. The measured phase velocity is in good agreement with the prediction of the analytical model. No stability criterion was found through this model. The lack of stability criteria is discussed.

[1]  R. Wirz,et al.  Propagation of ion acoustic wave energy in the plume of a high-current LaB_{6} hollow cathode. , 2017, Physical review. E.

[2]  Marcel P. Georgin,et al.  Passive High-speed Imaging of Ion Acoustic Turbulence in a Hollow Cathode , 2017 .

[3]  L. Garrigues,et al.  Hollow cathode modeling: I. A coupled plasma thermal two-dimensional model , 2017 .

[4]  L. Garrigues,et al.  Hollow cathode modeling: II. Physical analysis and parametric study , 2017 .

[5]  Ioannis G. Mikellides,et al.  First-principles Modelling of the IAT-driven Anomalous Resistivity in Hollow Cathode Discharges I: Theory , 2016 .

[6]  Ioannis G. Mikellides,et al.  First-Principles Modeling of IAT-Driven Anomalous Resistivity in Hollow Cathode Discharges II: Numerical Simulations and Comparisons with Experiments , 2016 .

[7]  James E. Polk,et al.  Ion acoustic turbulence and ion energy measurements in the plume of the HERMeS thruster hollow cathode , 2016 .

[8]  R. Wirz,et al.  Effects of Internally Mounted Cathodes on Hall Thruster Plume Properties , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[9]  I. Mikellides,et al.  Wear Mechanisms in Electron Sources for Ion Propulsion, 2: Discharge Hollow Cathode , 2008 .

[10]  Dan M. Goebel,et al.  Evidence of nonclassical plasma transport in hollow cathodes for electric propulsion , 2007 .

[11]  Dan M. Goebel,et al.  LaB6 Hollow Cathodes for Ion and Hall Thrusters , 2005 .

[12]  Alec D. Gallimore,et al.  Effect of Backpressure on Ion Current Density Measurements in Hall Thruster Plumes , 2005 .

[13]  John R. Anderson,et al.  An Overview of the Results from the 30,000 Hr Life Test of Deep Space 1 Flight Spare Ion Engine , 2004 .

[14]  James E. Polk,et al.  One-Dimensional Hollow Cathode Model , 2003 .

[15]  P. Johnson,et al.  Electron-impact-induced emission and excitation cross sections of xenon at low energies , 2001 .

[16]  George J. Williams,et al.  Laser-induced fluorescence characterization of ions emitted from hollow cathodes , 2000 .

[17]  George J. Williams,et al.  Low-current hollow cathode evaluation , 1999 .

[18]  M. Martínez-Sánchez,et al.  A numerical study of low-frequency discharge oscillations in Hall thrusters , 1997 .

[19]  I. Katz,et al.  Theory of hollow operation in spot and plume modes , 1994 .

[20]  E. Powers,et al.  Estimation of wavenumber and frequency spectra using fixed probe pairs , 1982 .

[21]  C. M. Philip.  A Study of Hollow Cathode Discharge Characteristics , 1970 .

[22]  Kirtland Afb,et al.  MEASUREMENTS OF SOME PROPERTIES OF A DISCHARGE FROM A HOLLOW CATHODE , 1969 .

[23]  T. H. Stix,et al.  The Theory Of Plasma Waves , 1962 .