Plasma Thruster Using Momentum Exchange in Crossed Magnetic Fields

We examine the creation and design of a plasma thruster based on the converting of radial and circumferential momentum of the plasma flow into the axial direction. The acceleration effect is formed by the azimuthal electric field which comes about as a variation of an external, axial magnetic flux. Simultaneously, the azimuthal electron and ion flows interact with the radial magnetic field via the Lorentz force. Owing to this process, the transformation of azimuthal momentum transfers into axial momentum. As a result, the electron and ion flows are accelerated in one axial direction. Estimations specifying the admissible range of parameters of this device and the plasma flow are derived.