Pulsed-inductive thruster

A new set of pulsed-inductive thrusters (PITs) have been developed for the Flux-Coil-Generated, Field-Reversed Configuration Experiment (FCX) at Tri Alpha Energy, Inc. This paper details their design, simulation, and measured performance. The simulation solves coupled equations for the circuit currents and plasma parameters, including formation and acceleration. The PIT design involves: 5 pulsed-gas valves, a 2-stage Marx generator capacitor bank, a low-inductance parallel-plate transmission line, and a high-current & voltage vacuum feedthrough. The power source provides a 2.5 μs, 1/4-period rise time and 1 Ω impedance. Measurements 1-m downstream from the PIT indicate: n = 10
¹²
-10
¹⁴
cm
^-3
, temperature, T
_i
= 25-40 eV, and plasma-energy content, E
_p
= 20-30 J, which are adequate for the FCX.