title: Kink instability in applied-field magneto-plasma-dynamic thrusters.
abstract: Measurements of magnetic and electrostatic fluctuations in an applied field magneto-plasma-dynamic thruster have shown that a m/n=1/1 kink mode becomes unstable whenever the Kruskal-Shafranov limit is violated. A positive correlation is established between the kink and performance degradation at high current, which has until now prevented the use of this kind of thruster in space missions.
authors.affiliation: Consorzio RFX, Associazione EURATOM-ENEA sulla fusione, corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zuin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cavazzana
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martines
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serianni
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Antoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bagatin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andrenucci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paganucci
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossetti