title: Liquid-metal-ion source development for space propulsion at ARC.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Space Propulsion & Advanced Concepts, Austrian Research Centers GmbH-ARC, Austria. martin.tajmar@arcs.ac.at
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tajmar
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scharlemann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Genovese
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buldrini
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Steiger
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vasiljevich