WASET
	%0 Journal Article
	%A Tony Schönherr and  Kimiya Komurasaki and  Georg Herdrich
	%D 2011
	%J International Journal of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering
	%B World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
	%I Open Science Index 50, 2011
	%T Study on Plasma Creation and Propagation in a Pulsed Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster
	%U https://publications.waset.org/pdf/626
	%V 50
	%X The performance and the plasma created by a pulsed
magnetoplasmadynamic thruster for small satellite application is
studied to understand better the ablation and plasma propagation
processes occurring during the short-time discharge. The results can
be applied to improve the quality of the thruster in terms of efficiency,
and to tune the propulsion system to the needs required by the satellite
mission. Therefore, plasma measurements with a high-speed camera
and induction probes, and performance measurements of mass bit
and impulse bit were conducted. Values for current sheet propagation
speed, mean exhaust velocity and thrust efficiency were derived from
these experimental data. A maximum in current sheet propagation
was found by the high-speed camera measurements for a medium
energy input and confirmed by the induction probes. A quasilinear
tendency between the mass bit and the energy input, the current
action integral respectively, was found, as well as a linear tendency
between the created impulse and the discharge energy. The highest
mean exhaust velocity and thrust efficiency was found for the highest
energy input.
	%P 386 - 392