エレクトロダイナミックテザーへの適用に関するプラズマコンタクタの電子放出・収集特性

概要

論文の詳細を見る
Plasma contactors are proposed as making good electrical contact between spacecraft and ambient ionospheric plasma. Especially, it has been studied as the one of key components of electrodynamic tether for electron emitter and collector. In this study, the experiments were conducted to understand the plasma contacting process. Hollow cathodes were used for plasma contactor to establish a low impedance electrical contact. The results show the simultaneous operation of the plasma contactors for current collection and emission from and to an ambient plasma at the current levels of the order of five ampere. We obtained a performance curve, potential profile and the appearance of a bright luminous cloud that typically extends some tens of centimeters from the collector and confirmed closed current loop formation via simulated plasma between the emitter and the collector.
社団法人日本航空宇宙学会の論文
2003-03-05