Development of High Current Electron Emitter for Electric Propulsion

Abstract

We have designed and manufactured a 100 A class electron emitter for high electric propulsion systems of space crafts. The electron emitter shape and materials were determined by the plasma analysis and the heat analysis. As the result of the operation test, the electron current of 100 A was successfully extracted. The operation reached to the steady-state within 10 sec in any case. In the low flow rate and high discharge current case, the discharge voltage was larger than other cases in order to extract the electron forcibly. In this case, the discharge voltage was fluctuated and a plume spread conically.