High current electron source capable of instant stable operation

• Project/Area Number: 15H05558
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Aerospace engineering
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Yokota Shigeru 筑波大学, システム情報系, 准教授 (30545778)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥19,240,000 (Direct Cost: ¥14,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥4,440,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥3,770,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥870,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥5,850,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,350,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥9,620,000 (Direct Cost: ¥7,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,220,000)
• Keywords: 宇宙推進 / 電気推進 / ホローカソード / 電子源 / 大電流電子源

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A criterion to stabilize the operation of a hollow cathode for high power electric propulsion of space crafts is obtained. First, we found that the hollow cathode operation is unstable when the propellant flow rate is low and the electron extract current is high. Second, we observed the plasma in the hollow cathode using probes. As a result, we found that the forcible electron collection causes the unsteady operation. Finally, we developed a new hollow cathode under the stabilization criteria and demonstrated that the hollow cathode operation became stabilized instantly.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Plasma diagnostics in High Current Hollow Cathode (2018)
  • Author(s): K. Kojima, S. Yokota, J. Yamasaki, M. Yonaha, T. Kimura, Y. Kawamata, M. Yasui
  • Journal Title: Transactions of the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Science, Aerospace Technology Japan Volume: 16
  • NAID: 130007542875
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] 大電流電子源 の開発 (2017)
  • Author(s): 山﨑純子，横田茂，嶋村耕平，小島康平，木村竜也，川又善博，安井正明
  • Journal Title: プラズマ応用科学 Volume: 25 Pages: 3-8
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Operation Characteristics of a High Current Electron Emitter (2017)
  • Author(s): J. Yamasaki, M. Yonaha, S. Yokota, K. Shimamura
  • Journal Title: Plasma Application and Hybrid Functionally Materials Volume: 26 Pages: 51-51
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Plasma Structure in High-current Hollow Cathode (2018)
  • Author(s): J. Yamasaki, S. Yokota, K. Shmamura
  • Organizer: The 11st International Workshop on Plasma Application and Hybrid Functionally Materials
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Operation Characteristics of a High Current Electron Emitter (2017)
  • Author(s): J. Yamasaki, M. Yonaha, S. Yokota, K. Shimamura
  • Organizer: The 24th Annual Meeting of Institute of Applied Plasma Science
  • Place of Presentation: Hanoi, Vietnam
  • Year and Date: 2017-03-10
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 100A級ヒーターレスホローカソードの内部診断 (2017)
  • Author(s): 与那覇萌，山﨑純子，横田茂，小島康平，川又義博，木村竜也，安井正明
  • Organizer: 平成２８年度宇宙輸送シンポジウム
  • Place of Presentation: ISAS/JAXA（神奈川県・相模原市）
  • Year and Date: 2017-01-19
• [Presentation] Plasma Properties in a 100 A Class Heater-less Hollow Cathode (2017)
  • Author(s): J. Yamasaki, M. Yonaha, S. Yokota
  • Organizer: the 35th International Electric Propulsion Conference
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Two-dimensional Hollow Cathode (2017)
  • Author(s): S. Yokota, M. Yonaha, J. Yamasaki, K. Shimamura
  • Organizer: 31st International Symposium on Space Technology and Science
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Cathode Position Effect on Hall Thruster Performance (2017)
  • Author(s): S. Yokota, K. Nakatani, J. Yamasaki, K. Shimamura
  • Organizer: 31st International Symposium on Space Technology and Science
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Numerical Simulation of High Current Hollow Cathode (2017)
  • Author(s): K. Kojima, S. Yokota, A. Osada, J. Yamasaki, M. Yonaha, T. Kimura, Y. Kawamata, M. Yasui
  • Organizer: 31st International Symposium on Space Technology and Science
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Plasma Diagnosis by Langmuir Probing on High Current Hollow Cathode (2017)
  • Author(s): K. Kojima, S. Yokota, J. Yamasaki, M. Yonaha, T. Kimura, Y. Kawamata, M. Yasui
  • Organizer: 31st International Symposium on Space Technology and Science
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] MPDスラスタ内部の数値解析 (2016)
  • Author(s): 横田茂，春日勇人，水谷佳祐，市原大輔，岩川輝，佐宗章弘，小島 康平，木村竜也，川又善博，安井正明
  • Organizer: 平成27年度 宇宙輸送シンポジウム
  • Place of Presentation: ISAS/JAXA（神奈川県相模原市）
  • Year and Date: 2016-01-14
• [Presentation] 100A Hollow Cathode (2015)
  • Author(s): S. Yokota, K. Kojima, T. Kimura, H. Kataoka, A. Sasoh
  • Organizer: 30th International Electric Propulsion Conference
  • Place of Presentation: 神戸コンベンションセンター（兵庫県神戸市）
  • Year and Date: 2015-07-06
  • Int'l Joint Research