Cathode Spots Dynamics in a High-Current Vacuum Arc Thruster: Aluminum vs Iron
Résumé
This study investigates the apparent motion of cathode spots in a 30 W vacuum arc thruster by means of high-speed imaging. Images taken at 450,000 frames per second allowed to observe the evolution of cathode spots distribution throughout a single single discharge. Experiments were conducted with two different cathode materials: aluminum and iron. Associating the images and the discharge current reveals regions of high local current density, reaching approximately 10^9 A/m2 . Examining patterns in cathode spot clustering and mapping their trajectories lead to valuable insights into cathode erosion dynamics.
Domaines
Sciences de l'ingénieur [physics]
Fichier principal
AIAA Scitech 2025-2386.c1 Cathode spots dynamics in a high-current Vacuum Arc Thruster_Aluminum vs iron.pdf (8)
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