Suresh menon school of aerospace engineering georgia institute of technology dr. Helicon double layer thruster breakthrough in 2003, researchers at the australian national university in canberra created a plasma double layer in the laboratory. The helicon double layer thruster is a prototype spacecraft propulsion engine. It was created by australian scientist dr christine charles, based on a technology invented by professor rod boswell, both of the australian national university. Helicon double layer thruster concept the hdlt is a magnetoplasma thruster based upon the recent discovery of a current free electric double layer in an inductively. First performance measurements of the phase four rf thruster. The helicon double layer thruster hdlt concept is based on the recent discovery of a currentfree electric double layer dl in a helicon. It was created by australian scientist dr christine charles, based on a technology. Look up helicon or helikon in wiktionary, the free dictionary. The helicon double layer thruster hdlt1,2, being developed as a new electrodeless space plasma engine with extended lifetime, will be presented. Similar thrusters not explicitly invoking a current free double layer as an ion.
The helicon double layer thruster hdlt concept, invented by charles and boswell at the australian national university anu, appears to be promising for future high power electric propulsion, and needs to be investigated further. Archive of magazine articles, newspaper and radio reports, online interviews and the like in the local, national and international media regarding the development of the helicon double layer thruster. Ions and electrons which enter the double layer are accelerated, decelerated, or reflected by the electric field. Helicontype radiofrequency plasma thrusters and magnetic. Plasma chemistry in space propulsion using the helicon. This new propulsion concept has the potential to propel humans to mars and beyond and greatly decrease the costs of maintaining satellites and spacecraft in their desired orbits. Performance characterization of a helicon double layer thruster using direct thrust measurements. Numerical simulation of the helicon double layer thruster. Testing a helicon double layer thruster immersed in a. This concept was named the helicon double layer thruster hdlt. Available formats pdf please select a format to send. The us naval research laboratory has successfully flown a long term 6 km long, 23mm diameter tether with an outer layer of spectra braid and a core of acrylic yarn. The axial electric field of the double layer accelerates ions along the.
Pdf this work describes the development of a helicon double layer thruster and its acquisition system at the university of brasilia plasma physics. The satellite will incorporate dr charles helicon double layer thruster hdlt, which is not only an innovative electrodeless magneto plasma thruster but the first thruster of its kind in the world which will be applied to satellite station keeping and interplanetary space travel. Electrostatic rf thrusters, such as the helicon double layer thruster hdlt3 and the neptune thruster,4 use both free standing dc and applied rf electric. The helicon double layer thruster hdlt is a relatively new electric propulsion. A double layer is a structure in a plasma and consists of two parallel layers with opposite electrical charge. Facility effects on helicon thruster operation approved by. The experimental program thus demonstrated the potential of the mini helicon discharge as an excellent space thruster design, given its high throughput, absence of internal electrodes and cathodes, potentially long life time, very low divergence of the plasma plume, flexible choice of propellants, and variable specific impulse. Helicon double layer thruster, a prototype spacecraft propulsion engine. The helicon double layer thruster hdlt concept is based on the recent discovery of a current free electric double layer dl in a helicon plasma expanding in a diverging magnetic field. Helicon doublelayer thruster wikipedia republished. Helicon river, a former river in the macedonian city dion, mentioned in. An ion beam generated by an annular double layer has been measured in a helicon thruster, which sustains a magnetised lowpressure 5. Helicon double layer thruster performance enhancement via. The list of acronyms and abbreviations related to hdlt helicon double layer thruster.
Development of a helicon double layer thruster iopscience. Helicon double layer thruster concept for high power nep missions. Helicon double layer thruster of unb has three types of magnetic coils containing 730, 912 and 710. Helicon double layer thruster the helicon double layer thruster is a prototype spacecraft propulsion engine.
Pdf performance characterization of a helicon double. Ppt electric propulsion powerpoint presentation free. Although some progress has been achieved, at the present time a number of. Electrostatic rf thrusters, such as the helicon double layer thruster hdlt3 and the neptune thruster,4 use both free standing dc and applied rf electric elds to accelerate ions. Transport of ion beam in an annular magnetically expanding. Ion detachment in the helicon doublelayer thruster. Citeseerx document details isaac councill, lee giles, pradeep teregowda. That is, the energy needed to propel the spacecraft is contained within the chemical bonds. Testing a helicon double layer thruster immersed in a spacesimulation chamber. The helicon double layer thruster hdlt is an electrode free radio frequency power driven device described in detail in reference. Division of space plasma power and propulsion cpf anu. Chen undriven double layers observed in plasmas expanding along magnetic fields are the result of a sheath instability connected with the bohm criterion. Effect of permanent magnets on plasma confinement and ion. Lomonosov moscow state university, faculty of physics, moscow, russian federation.
For monopropellant rockets that depend on a chemical reaction, the power for the propulsive reaction and resultant thrust is provided by the chemical itself. To inanu to propose the helicon double layer thruster hdlt vestigate the temporal evolution of the ivdf, the dischargeconcept. Helicon double layer thruster last updated april 06, 2019. The helicon double layer thruster hdlt is being developed in the space plasma, power and propulsion group led by professor christine charles at the research school of physics at the australian national university in canberra, australia. Pdf testing a helicon double layer thruster immersed in. Executive final presentation of the act ariadna study on helicon thrusters together with cisas, university of padova, italy. Ambipolar ion acceleration in the expanding magnetic. The present work is devoted to the investigation of the radiofrequency rf inductive discharge placed in an external magnetic field. Besides elf thrusters, a helicon electrodeless advanced thruster heat6 and a gradually expanded rotamaklike ger7 plasma thruster are also proposed respectively in japan and singapore which are both based on the frc plasmoid generated by rmf. In the present thruster model, ions are accelerated in a potential drop of double layer appearing at the output of the thruster in the divergent magnetic field and due. An experimental investigation of alternative propellants. Helicon double layer thruster press archive cpf anu. In a number of experiments, spontaneous ion accelerations due to formations of a current free double layer cfdl and ambipolar electric field are observed in helicon sources as described in sect. Helicontype radiofrequency plasma thrusters and magnetic plasma.
The sheets of charge cause a strong electric field and a correspondingly sharp change in voltage electrical potential across the double layer. Pdf physical mechanism of currentfree double layers. It was created by australian scientist dr christine charles, based on a technology invented by professor rod boswell, both of the australian national university the design has been verified by the esa, which is participating in its development theory of operation. Acurrent free electric double layer is created in a helicon double layer thruster operating with xenon and compared to a recently developed theory. The possible formation of a currentfree double layer cfdl is discussed too. Direct thrust measurements of a permanent magnet helicon double layer thruster have been made using a pendulum thrust balance and a high sensitivity laser displacement sensor. Currentfree electric double layer in a small collisional. Iepc17design and optimization of a high density helicon.
Xenon ion beam characterization in a helicon double layer. Helicon double layer thruster sp3 has invented the worlds first helicon double layer thruster hdlt. It was created by australian scientist dr christine charles, based on a technology invented by professor rod boswell, both of the australian national university the design has been verified by. A monopropellant rocket or monoprop rocket is a rocket that uses a single chemical as its propellant chemicalreaction monopropellant rockets. Mitchell walker, advisor school of aerospace engineering georgia institute of technology dr. Temporal evolution of double layers in pulsed helicon plasmas.
Direct thrust measurement of a permanent magnet helicon. The helicon doublelayer thruster is a prototype spacecraft propulsion engine. Revolutionary thruster set for space launch anu media release apr 22 2009. The original concept strongly diverging magnetic field in pure argon has been tested. Helicon double layer thruster experiment 2003 helicon double layer thruster experiment australian national university 2005 helicon double layer thruster experiment european space agency, epfl, switzerland 20 plasmoid thruster experiment ptx ptx schematic nasa msfcu. Numerical simulations of the helicon double layer thruster concept final report. Jerry seitzman school of aerospace engineering georgia institute of technology dr. Thrust measurements in a lowmagnetic field highdensity mode in the helicon double layer thruster 15 july 2010 journal of physics d. Thrust measurements of a small scale helicon double layer thruster. This satellite, the tether physics and survivability experiment tips, was launched in june 1996 and remained in operation over 10 years, finally breaking in july 2006. Helicon double layer thruster concept for high power nep. Citeseerx experimental studies of helicon double layers. In a number of experiments, spontaneous ion accelerations due to formations of a currentfree double layer cfdl and ambipolar electric field. Description of the helicon double layer device based on most of the helicon double layer devices on the literature 45611, the hdlt helicon double layer thruster of unb has three types of magnetic coils containing 730, 912 and 710 loops of 3mm diameter 10 awg copper insulated.
The helicon double layer thruster hdlt technology to be used by the esa was developed by dr christine charles and professor rod boswell from the. Boswell, who discovered that a current free double layer dl occurs downstream of a helicon source expanding into a diverging magnetic field2,3, and that the ion beam is accelerated in the thin, collisionless layer4. Performance characterization of a helicon double layer thruster. The helicon double layer thruster hdlt uses a helicon plasma. Spatial retarding field energy analyzer measurements downstream of a helicon double layer plasma applied physics letters, vol. The hdlt is based on ion acceleration in a current free electric double layer resulting in the formation of an energetic.
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