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arXiv · 2301.13023

Application of Coherent Microwave Scattering and Multiphoton Ionization for Diagnostics of Electric Propulsion Systems

Adam R. Patel·Sashin L. B. Karunarathne·Nicholas Babusis·Alexey Shashurin
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Abstract

Nonintrusive measurements of plasma properties are essential to evaluate, and numerically simulate, the in-flight performance of electric propulsion systems. As a logical first step in the development of new diagnostic techniques, this work depicts the implementation of multiphoton ionization and coherent microwave scattering (MPI-CMS) in a gridded-ion accelerator operating on rare gases. Presented studies primarily comprise photoionization spectroscopy of ground and excited state-populations of both neutrals and ions supplemented by optical emission spectroscopy and Langmuir probe derived plume properties. Results suggest the potential of MPI-CMS for non-intrusive measurements of specie number densities.

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Adam R. Patel, Sashin L. B. Karunarathne, Nicholas Babusis, Alexey Shashurin. 2023-01-30. Application of Coherent Microwave Scattering and Multiphoton Ionization for Diagnostics of Electric Propulsion Systems. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463%2Facc25b

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