PLASMA ACCELERATOR WITH CLOSED DRIFT OF ELECTRONS Russian patent published in 1995 - IPC

FIELD: space technology. SUBSTANCE: plasma accelerator with closed drift of electrons has annular discharge chamber formed by inner and outer ring walls 1 with zones 2 and 3 of ionization and acceleration accordingly separated by equipotentiality of electric field 4, anode 5 with ducts 6 to supply working gas into discharge chamber, gas distributors 7, ducts 8 to feed working gas into gas distributors, magnetic system with inner and outer magnetic poles 9 and 10, source 12 of magnetomotive force, magnetic circuits 15 and cathode-compensator 16. Magnetic system is additionally provided with inner and outer magnetic screens 13 with jumper 14 manufactured from magnetically soft material. At least bigger part of walls of discharge chamber facing zone of ionization is placed perpendicular to at least one of lines of force 11 of magnetic field which pass through these walls. Anode has space which edges are located close to outer and inner walls of discharge chamber. Central part of space communicates with ducts supplying working medium into discharge chamber. Curvature of walls forming anode space is chosen so that their surface embrace magnetic force surface within ionization zone. EFFECT: reduced wall losses, improved focusing of accelerated ion flux in discharge chamber, decreased rate of erosion of walls in acceleration zone, reduced percentage of products of sputtering of walls of discharge chamber in ion beam. 6 cl, 1 dwg