question on ion drives

[chriscdc]

Excluding vasimir and Hall thrusters, are there any electrode-less ion dengine designs?<br /><br />Do any systems use electron guns to neutralise the ions rather than an electrode grill?

 

[mlorrey]

Yes, there are diode pumped laser plasma thrusters as well. They produce a neutrally charged exhaust, so there is no need of electrodes, electrode guns, etc.

 

[annodomini2]

Do you have any good links on ion drive design? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[mlorrey]

Well there are lots, but its always best to google around with the likely terms. Also, the Glenn Research Center's website has a good server for downloading a lot of scientific papers published by NASA on various subjects. There are electric propulsion ones in there. The Air Force Institute of Technology at Maxwell AFB has one too for their masters graduates.

 

[why06]

I would try wikipedia<font color="yellow"></font> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div>________________________________________ <br /></div><div><ul><li><font color="#008000"><em>your move...</em></font></li></ul></div> </div>

 

[mlorrey]

While wikipedia has good laymans explainations for the different types, it doesn't do anything about showing engineering details.

 

[chriscdc]

Well there is a solution to that.<br />Pretty please.

 

[jbellinger]

This one came from an Australian university a couple years ago. I believe it's electrodeless.<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicon_Double_Layer_Thruster

 

[rocketman5000]

that is basically the front half of a vasimr engine. The vasimr uses a helicon coil to create a plasma then further energizes it with radiowaves. that thrusters simply ditchs the radio waves.

 

[Zipi]

<p>Have you seen this Qinetiq ion engine:</p><p>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7346789.stm</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[cosmictraveler]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Have you seen this Qinetiq ion engine:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7346789.stm <br />Posted by Zipi</DIV><br /><br /><font size="4">I found this to be rather interesting. It states that the sun must provide the power to make the device work and it doesn't have much thrust to mopve heavy ojects very fast either. </font></p><p><font size="4">"In space, ion engines will draw electric power from solar panels, generating a thrust equivalent to the weight of a postcard."</font></p><p><font size="4">Not a very good way to travel if you need to move fast and with heavy equipment.<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-frown.gif" border="0" alt="Frown" title="Frown" /></font></p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>It does not require many words to speak the truth. Chief Joseph</p> </div>