Microwave Frequency Tuning of an ECR Ion Thruster for Impedance Matching

Abstract

A 20-cm diameter electron cyclotron resonance xenon ion thruster for space propulsion is under development that generates 500 mA of ion beam current at a microwave discharge power of 100 W. It does not have any moving mechanical parts for microwave impedance matching. Extracted ion currents and reflected microwave powers were experimentally investigated around a nominal frequency of 4.25 GHz for different flow rates. Optimized frequency tuning within 0.6% of the nominal frequency minimized the microwave reflection and maximized the ion current at each flow rate between 0.39 and 1.27 mg/s. However, constant frequency operation at 4.266 GHz is recognized as the best strategy because it provided with fare performance in wide range of flow rate and almost minimum reflection during tentative stop of beam extraction after high voltage breakdowns.