Narrow region plasma measurement method and application to miniature RF plasma thrusters.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K04485
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 24010:Aerospace engineering-related
• Research Institution: Ryukoku University
• Principal Investigator: Oshio Yuya 龍谷大学, 先端理工学部, 助教 (80711233)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 電気推進 / プラズマ計測 / 超小型衛星

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Miniature plasma thrusters have been developed as propulsion systems for miniature satellites. The one of the issue of them has been to measure the plasma characteristics in a narrow region, which can be several millimetres in size. In this study, an optical measurement system was developed for an miniature RF plasma thruster of 3.4 mm diameter to measure the plasma distribution by measuring the emission line brightness distribution in narrow plasma regions for understanding the plasma characteristics in narrow regions. The relative electron number density and neutral number density distribution of a 10 mm x 10 mm region with a spatial resolution of 0.026 mm was successfully measured for the first time. In addition, the plasma phenomena in the discharge tube peculior to the narrow region were observed and the effects on the length and diameter of the discharge tube were revealed. From these results provided knowledge for the optimisation of miniature plasma thrusters.

Free Research Field

航空宇宙工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

超小型衛星の打ち上げ数は年々増加しており、それに伴い超小型スラスタへの要求も高まっている。特にプラズマスラスタの性能向上は超小型衛星ミッションの高度化に重要である。超小型プラズマスラスタの対象となる狭領域のプラズマ現象は計測の難しさから未だ未解明な部分が多い。本研究の成果であり、狭領域のプラズマ計測手法を応用することで、狭領域のプラズマ現象の解明、それに伴う超小型プラズマスラスタの性能向上へつながることが期待できる。