Liquid-metal-ion source development for space propulsion at ARC.
The Austrian Research Centers have a long history of developing indium Liquid-Metal-Ion Source (LMIS) for space applications including spacecraft charging compensators, SIMS and propulsion. Specifically the application as a thruster requires long-term operation as well as high-current operation which is very challenging. Recently, we demonstrated the operation of a cluster of single LMIS at an average current of 100muA each for more than 4800h and developed models for tip erosion and droplet deposition suggesting that such a LMIS can operate up to 20,000h or more. In order to drastically increase the current, a porous multi-tip source that allows operation up to several mA was developed. Our paper will highlight the problem areas and challenges from our LMIS development focusing on space propulsion applications.
Tajmar
M
M
Space Propulsion & Advanced Concepts, Austrian Research Centers GmbH-ARC, Austria. martin.tajmar@arcs.ac.at
Scharlemann
C
C
Genovese
A
A
Buldrini
N
N
Steiger
W
W
Vasiljevich
I
I