METHOD OF NEUTRALISING SPATIAL CHARGE OF ION STREAM Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC F03H1/00 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to beam engineering and can be used to compensate (neutralise) for spatial charge of a beam of positive ions of electro-jet engines, particularly for use in propulsion devices of micro- and nanosatellites. The method of neutralising spatial charge of an ion stream of an electro-jet propulsion device by emitting electrons through multiple autoemission sources. Sources are placed around each of the electro-jet engines of said device. Emission currents of separate autoemission sources or groups of said multiple autoemission sources are controlled independent of each other.

EFFECT: reduced consumption the working medium of an electro-jet engine, including a multimode electro-jet engine or a multi-engine apparatus, minimum time for switching to neutralisation operating mode and fast switching of electron current according to the operating mode of said electro-jet engine, optimising transfer of electrons into the neutralisation region in order to reduce divergence of the ion beam or deviation thereof, thereby changing the direction of ion thrust.

6 cl