Abstract:
Single-point measurements of time-resolved plasma density fluctuations are collected throughout a planar region of the exhaust plume downstream from a Hall effect thruste...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
Single-point measurements of time-resolved plasma density fluctuations are collected throughout a planar region of the exhaust plume downstream from a Hall effect thruster. A matrix of empirical discrete time transfer functions is created between the thruster discharge current (input) signal and the measured (output) electron density signals, thus estimating the thruster-plume system. Applying a fixed input signal, the two-dimensional time-resolved response of the plume is then determined - revealing the structure and evolution of the plasma discharge. Discrete turbulent bursts of plasma are tracked as the thruster exhales breaths of ionized propellant at rates in excess of 12 km/s. In effect, fusion in both the spatial and time domain is being used in this novel application.
Published in: 2009 12th International Conference on Information Fusion
Date of Conference: 06-09 July 2009
Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 18 August 2009
Print ISBN:978-0-9824-4380-4
Conference Location: Seattle, WA, USA