PLASMA ACCELERATOR WITH CLOSED-CIRCUIT ELECTRON DRIFT Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: rocket engines and process equipment. SUBSTANCE: accelerator has annular discharge chamber with ring-shaped anode gas distributor and hollow axial cathode, magnetic system, and set of annular electrodes. All components are made symmetrical to two relatively perpendicular longitudinal planes. Gaps provided between these planes and in ring-shaped anode gas distributor and in set of annular electrodes electrically isolate them from each other and form four isolated sectors. These sectors accommodate sector-shaped external poles and pole shoes, each having individual magnetic-field source. Primarily axial magnetic field is built up between external poles and pole shoes and mainly radial magnetic field, between external poles and internal axial pole. Radial electric field is created, respectively, between cathode and electrodes and axial one, between cathode and anode perpendicular to magnetic fields. By varying field strength of these fields in each sector form and direction of axis of accelerated plasma flow are controlled. EFFECT: facilitated control of accelerated plasma flow. 4 cl, 2 dwg