This contribution presents a short review of electric propulsion (EP) technologies for
satellites and spacecraft. Electric thrusters, also termed ion or plasma thrusters, deliver a low …

Abstract Development of electrodeless radiofrequency plasma thrusters, eg, a helicon
thruster, has been one the of challenging topics for future high-power and long-lived electric …

This paper provides perspectives on recent progress in understanding the physics of
devices in which the external magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the discharge …

Plasma thrusters are challenging the monopoly of chemical thrusters in space propulsion.
The specific energy that can be deposited into a plasma beam is orders of magnitude larger …

The axial force imparted from a magnetically expanding current-free plasma is directly
measured for three different experimental configurations and compared with a two …

Cross-field diffusion and plasma expansion in a rapidly diverging magnetic nozzle are
controlled while maintaining constant plasma production in a contiguously attached radio …

By considering particle, momentum, and energy balance equations, we develop a semi-
empirical quasi one-dimensional analytical discharge model of radio-frequency and helicon …

An axisymmetric macroscopic model of the magnetized plasma flow inside the helicon
thruster chamber is derived, assuming that the power absorbed from the helicon antenna …

Experimental characterization of plasma properties along the magnetic nozzle of an electron
cyclotron resonance thruster is presented here. A permanent magnet (PM) prototype and a …

Direct thrust measurements of an electron cyclotron resonance plasma thruster are
performed with a thrust balance. The thruster performances are deduced, and the influence …