The research group led by Kazunori Takahashi from Tohoku University has identified that spontaneously excited plasma waves may resolve the plasma detachment issue in magnetic nozzle plasma thrusters, also known as helicon thrusters. This breakthrough addresses the challenge of electron confinement, which has historically hindered thrust generation due to the electric field pulling ions back. The study demonstrates that magnetosonic waves can induce electron transport toward the nozzle axis, effectively neutralizing ions and enhancing thrust efficiency. This finding could significantly advance electric propulsion technology for space travel.
PREREQUISITESAerospace engineers, plasma physicists, researchers in electric propulsion technology, and anyone involved in the development of advanced space travel systems.
A research group has demonstrated that spontaneously excited plasma waves may be the solution to a long-associated problem with magnetic nozzle plasma thrusters, turning conventional thinking on its head.
In magnetic nozzle radio frequency thrusters, sometimes referred to as helicon thrusters, magnetic nozzles channel and accelerate plasma to allow spacecraft to generate thrust. The technology, which harnesses electric propulsion, shows great potential for ushering in a new era of space travel. Yet the so-called "plasma detachment" problem has hampered further development.
Since magnetic field lines always form closed loops, the ones inside magnetic nozzles inevitably turn back to the thruster structure. For this reason, the plasma flow has to be detached from the magnetic nozzle. Ions, having a large gyro radius, detach easily from the magnetic nozzle. But electrons, with their small mass and small gyro radius, are tied to the field lines, generating an electric field that pulls the ions back and renders a net thrust of zero.
When plasma expands, it can gain or lose energy and momentum due to waves, turbulence or electromagnetic forces. Plasma transport and loss due to the wave and turbulence have been a major issue for confining plasma in thermonuclear fusion reactors.
Abstract - Plasma flows in divergent magnetic fields resembling a magnetic nozzle can be found over wide scales ranging from astrophysical objects to terrestrial plasma devices. Plasma detachment from a magnetic nozzle is a frequent occurrence in natural plasmas, e.g., plasma ejection from the Sun and release from the Sun’s magnetic field, forming the solar wind. Plasma detachment has also been a challenging problem relating to space propulsion devices utilizing a magnetic nozzle, especially the detachment of the magnetized electrons having a gyro-radius smaller than the system’s scale is required to maintain zero net current exhausted from the system. Here we experimentally demonstrate that a cross-field transport of the electrons toward the main nozzle axis, which contributes to neutralizing the ions detached from the nozzle, is induced by the spontaneously excited magnetosonic wave having the frequency considerably higher than the ion cyclotron frequency and close to the lower hybrid frequency, driving an E × B drift that only effects the electrons. Wave-induced transport and loss have been one of many important issues in plasma physics over the past several decades. Conversely, the presently observed electron inward transport has a beneficial effect on the detachment by reducing the divergence of the expanding plasma beam; this finding will open a new perspective for the role of waves and instabilities in plasmas.