New Possibilities for High-Power Electrodeless Electric Propulsion Using the Hall Effect by Applying a Time-Varying Azimuthal Electric Field

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K18774
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 24:Aerospace engineering, marine and maritime engineering, and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Koizumi Hiroyuki 東京大学, 大学院新領域創成科学研究科, 准教授 (40361505)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 大電力電気推進 / 無電極プラズマ / ホール効果 / 宇宙探査

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we proposed a propulsion system that induces an axial electric field to accelerate ions generated by high-frequency plasma in a channel with a predominant radial magnetic field and applying another low-frequency fluctuating magnetic field. A radial magnetic field was generated inside the 10 cm diameter circular channel using a solenoid coil and a ferrite yoke, and a low-frequency time-varying magnetic field was applied by a spiral coil installed at the bottom of the ring (upstream outside). The plasma potential profile was measured by an emissive probe and the plasma density profile by a Langmuir probe in a time-resolved manner. The results showed that the application of the low-frequency time-varying magnetic field caused a significant change in the plasma, but the formation of an electric field synchronized with the fluctuating magnetic field was not confirmed.

Free Research Field

宇宙推進工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

将来、大規模な惑星間宇宙輸送が行われる時代には、100 kWを超える電力で作動するプラズマエンジンが不可欠となる。そのようなエンジンは既存エンジンの延長よりは、全く新しい原理／構造によって実現される可能性が高い。本研究では、そのような方式の１つとして高周波でプラズマを生成し、別の高周波でプラズマを加速する新しい方法を試みた。未だ推進機としては作動していないものの、今後別条件での研究を継続することで新たな発見の可能性がある。また、試みられたことのない条件における作動や、当初期待されていたものとは異なる結果が出たことで、さらに別の方式を生み出す可能性がある。