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Recent progress in research and development of hollow cathodes for electric propulsion

  • Topical Collection: Review Paper
  • Recent Progress in Physics of Plasma-Based Space Propulsion
  • Published:
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Abstract

Electric thrusters are finding increasing usage worldwide in spacecraft applications. Significant progress has been made in recent years in the modeling and performance of thermionic hollow cathodes used in flight thrusters, such as Hall and ion thrusters, or other types of plasma sources, such as for technological plasmas. The recent progress is surveyed in this paper through the discussion of six areas: hollow cathode modeling and simulation, low-current hollow cathodes, high-current hollow cathodes, heaterless hollow cathodes, new thermionic insert materials, and plasma oscillations. This includes descriptions of hollow cathode designs capable of < 1 A to over 300 A, advances in electron emitter and heating/starting technologies, and modeling and simulation of the plasma properties, thermal behavior and instabilities in the discharge. Advances in the understanding and technology in these areas and challenges that still need to be addressed and solved are discussed.

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Adapted from McDonald et al. (2017)

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[From Ref. (Goebel et al. 2005b)]

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[Figure reproduced from Kim and Hosono (2012)]

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[Figures reproduced from Nation (Nation et al. 1999)]

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[Figure reproduced from Aplin et al. (2009)]

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[Figure reproduced from Kuninaka and Satori (1998)]

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Space Propulsion Systems Dept., Rafael, 3102102, Haifa, Israel

    Dan R. Lev

  2. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA

    Ioannis G. Mikellides & Dan M. Goebel

  3. Sitael S.p.A., Via A. Gherardesca 5, 56121, Pisa, Italy

    Daniela Pedrini

  4. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Benjamin A. Jorns

  5. U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA

    Michael S. McDonald

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Annex: List of hollow cathodes

Annex: List of hollow cathodes

Cathode name

Designer

Id (A)

Flow (sccm)

Emitter type

Heater

Dev Status

Country

Comments

References

ISS Contactor

NASA GRC

0–12

4–6

BaO–W

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

FM

USA

Space Station Contactor cathode

Sarver-Verhey (1997)

NSTAR Discharge

NASA GRC

4.3–13.1

2.4–3.6

BaO–W

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

FM

USA

Flight ion thruster cathode

Brophy (2002)

NSTAR Neutralizer

NASA GRC

0.5–1.76

2.5–3.7

BaO–W

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

FM

USA

Flight ion thruster cathode

Brophy (2002)

XIPS 13 cm Discharge

Hughes

4

1.2

BaO–W

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

FM

USA

Flight ion thruster cathode

Beattie et al. (1989)

XIPS 13 cm Neutralizer

Hughes

0.5

0.6

BaO–W

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

FM

USA

Flight ion thruster cathode

Beattie et al. (1989)

XIPS 25 cm Discharge

Hughes

4–24

1.5–3

BaO–W

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

FM

USA

Flight ion thruster cathode

Tighe et al. (2006)

XIPS 25 cm Neutralizer

Hughes

1.5–3

1.6–3.2

BaO–W

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

FM

USA

Flight ion thruster cathode

Tighe et al. (2006)

BPT-4000

Aerojet

5–15

4–10.2

Ba/Scandate

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

FM

USA

4.5 kW Hall thruster cathode

De Grys et al. (2005)

NEXIS Discharge

JPL

4–30

6.5

BaO–W

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

DM

USA

25 kW ion thruster cathode

Polk et al. (2012)

NEXIS Neutralizer

JPL

0.5–5

4

BaO–W

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

LM

USA

25 kW ion thruster cathode

Polk et al. (2012)

Brophy 1991

JPL

25

4

BaO–W

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

LM

USA

5000 h life test cathode

Brophy and Garner (1991)

Brophy 1988

JPL

100

9–18

BaO–W

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

LM

USA

1000 h life test cathode (Ar)

Brophy and Garner (1988a)

HERMeS 1

NASA GRC

8–31.5

10–21.7

BaO–W

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

LM

USA

12.5 kW Hall thruster cathode

Kamhawi and VanNoord (2012)

HERMeS 2

JPL

8–31.4

10–21.7

LaB6

Heater

(Swaged Ta–Al2O3)

DM

USA

12.5 kW Hall thruster cathode

Goebel and Polk (2016)

H6

JPL

2–60

3–21

LaB6

Heater

(Swaged Ta–Al2O3)

LM

USA

6 kW Hall thruster cathode

Goebel and Watkins (2010)

H9

UoM

5–60

5–20

LaB6

Heater

(Swaged Ta–Al2O3)

LM

USA

9 kW Hall thruster cathode

Goebel and Watkins (2010)

1/2″ LaB6 Gen1

JPL

10–100

5–15

LaB6

Heater

(Swaged Ta–Al2O3)

LM

USA

Hermes prototype cathode

Goebel and Polk (2015)

1/2″ LaB6 Gen2

JPL

10–200

5–20

LaB6

Heater

(Swaged Ta–Al2O3)

LM

USA

Development model cathode

Chu and Goebel (2012)

X3 Gen1

JPL

5–250

10–20

LaB6

Heater

(Swaged Ta–Al2O3)

LM

USA

100 kW Hall thruster cathode

Goebel and Chu (2014)

Xe Gen3

JPL

10–300

10–20

LaB6

Heater

(Swaged Ta–Al2O3)

DM

USA

100 kW Hall thruster cathode

Goebel et al. (2017)

NEXT Discharge

NASA GRC

8–20

3.5–4.9

BaO–W

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

DM

USA

Ion thruster cathode

Patterson et al. (2002)

NEXT Neutralizer

NASA GRC

1–3.6

4

BaO–W

Heater

(Swaged Ta–MgO)

DM

USA

Ion thruster cathode

Patterson et al. (2002)

BHC-1500

Busek

0–3

1

BaO–W

Heater

FM

USA

BHT-200 Hall thruster

Busek Space Propulsion and Systems (2013)

BHC-2500

Busek

≤ 25

2.5–6

BaO–W

Heater

EM

USA

BHT-1500 Hall thruster cathode

Szabo et al. (2017)

BHC-5000

Busek

≤ 70

6–15

BaO–W

Heater

EM

USA

BHT-8000 Hall thruster cathode

Szabo et al. (2013)

60-A Hollow Cathode

UoM and JPL

10–60

10–30

LaB6

Heater

LM

USA

For H9 9-kW magnetically shielded thruster and 2-channel magnetically shielded nested Hall thruster

By Author

CSU Fast Starting Cathode

Colorado State University

1–5

6–10

BaO–W

Heater

DM

USA

 

Rubin and Williams (2009)

HEPS-350 Cathode

HeatWave

1–10

2–10

BaO–W

Heater

FM

USA

Operated with Deimos-2 satellite

Lee et al. (2018)

SFHC 175F

EPL

0–3

1–3

BaO–W

Heater

FM

USA

 

www.electricpropulsionlaboratory.com/Emitters.htm

SFHC 250F

EPL

0–10

1–5

BaO–W

Heater

FM

USA

 

www.electricpropulsionlaboratory.com/Emitters.htm

NRL Cathode

NRL

0.03–0.1

5

C12A7

Heater

LM

USA

 

McDonald and Caruso (2017)

SPT-50 (КЭ-1P)

Fakel

1.25–2

1.5

LaB6

Heater

FM

Russia

100–700 W Hall thruster cathode

Saevets et al. (2017)

PLAS-40 (КЭ-1H)

Fakel

1–2

0.5–1.8

LaB6

Heater

DM

Russia

100–700 W Hall thruster cathode

Potapenko and Gopanchuk (2013)

SPT-70 (КЭ-5A)

Fakel

2.2

2.5–3.5

LaB6

Heater

FM

Russia

700 kW Hall thruster (SPT-70) cathode

Murashko et al. (2007)

SPT-100 (КN-3)

Fakel

4.5

4.8

LaB6

Heater

FM

Russia

1.35 kW Hall thruster (SPT-100) cathode

Murashko et al. (2007)

SPT-140 Cathode

Fakel

3–15

2–8

LaB6

Heater

FM

Russia

4.5 kW Hall thruster cathode

Snyder and Hofer (2014)

KM-45 Cathode

Keldysh Research Center

0.88–1.27

1

LaB6

Heater

QM

Russia

350 W Hall thruster cathode

Gorshkov et al. (2008)

KM-5 Cathode

Keldysh Research Center

4.5

1.5–5

BaO–W

Heater

FM

Russia

1.35 kW Hall thruster cathode

Akimov et al. (2009)

KM-60 Cathode

Keldysh Research Center

1.8

0.75–12

LaB6

Heater

FM

Russia

900 W Hall thruster cathode

Vorontsov et al. (2017)

Keldysh Low-Current Cathode

Keldysh Research Center

0.09–0.3

0.15–0.8

BaO–W

Heater

DM

Russia

 

Puchkov (2017a)

PPS®1350 cathode

Safran/Fakel

≤ 7

4–7

BaO–W

Heater

FM

France/Russia

Operated with the PPS®1350-E

Marchandise et al. (2007)

PPS®5000 cathode

Safran

5–20

4–15

LaB6

Heater

QM

France

Operated with the PPS®5000

Balika et al. (2017)

MIREA cathode

MSTU MIREA

5–20

2–6

LaB6 (pallet)

Heater

LM

France

kW range Hall thruster cathode

Joussot et al. (2017)

Microwave Discharge Neutralizer

JAXA

0.3–0.7

0.22–0.75

N/A

RF

FM

Japan

Onboard DubaiSat-2

Kang et al. (2014)

µ1 Neutralizer

JAXA/The University of Tokyo

8e − 3–0.2

0.058–0.098

N/A

RF

FM

Japan

Neutralizer for MIPS ion engine onboard HODOYOSHI-4, for I-COUPS ion engine onboard PROCYON

Koizumi and Kuninaka (2011)

Kiku-8

JAXA

1–5

1.5–2.4

BaO–W

Heater

FM

Japan

Onboard Super Low Altitude Test Satellite (SLATS)

Ozaki et al. (2011)

µ10 Neutralizer

JAXA

0.10–0.19

0.2–0.6

N/A

RF

FM

Japan

Onboard Hayabusa2

Nishiyama et al. (2015b)

RF Plasma Cathode

Tokyo Metropolitan University

0.4–3.6

1–4

N/A

RF

DM

Japan

Operated with a 1 kW TAL-type Hall thruster

Watanabe et al. (2015)

LaB6 Hollow Cathode

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology/JAXA/Tokyo Metropolitan University

10–50

9.7–39

LaB6

Heater

LM

Japan

 

Oshio et al. (2019)

T5 Cathode

Qinetiq

≤ 5

0.5–4.5

BaO–W

Heater

FM

UK

Flight ion thruster cathode

Arcis et al. (2015)

T6 Discharge

Qinetiq

10–17.5

7.1

BaO–W

Heater

FM

UK

Flight ion thruster cathode

Snyder et al. (2010)

T6 Neutralizer

Qinetiq

1–2.2

4

BaO–W

Heater

FM

UK

Flight ion thruster cathode

Snyder et al. (2010)

UoSH Cathode

UoSH

5–8

0.5–1.75

LaB6

Heaterless

LM

UK

 

Daykin-Iliopoulos et al. (2017)

HiPER cathode

University of Southampton/Mars Space/QinetiQ

≤ 180

1.5–100

BaO–W

Heater

LM

UK

Developed under HiPER project

Coletti and Gabriel (2012)

QCT-200 Cathode

SSTL

1–4.5

4

BaO–W

Heater

FM

UK

Flight cathode (NovaSAR spacecraft)

Lane and Knoll (2015)

HC1

SITAEL

0.3–1

0.8–5

BaO–W

Heater

QM

Italy

100 W Hall thruster cathode

Misuri (2018)

HC3

SITAEL

1–3

0.8–8

LaB6

Heater

EM

Italy

400 W Hall thruster cathode

By Author

HC20/HC20 h

SITAEL

8–20

5–40

LaB6

Heaterless/heater

EM

Italy

5 kW Hall thruster cathodes

By Author

HC60

SITAEL

30–60

20–60

LaB6

Heater

QM

Italy

20 kW Hall thruster cathode

By Author

NccA 1000

LABEN/Proel

0.5–1

0.2–1

BaO–W

Heater

FM

Italy

RIT-10, RMT application

Arcis et al. (2015)

NccA 5000

LABEN/Proel

2–5

1–5

BaO–W

Heater

QM

Italy

PPS 1350, SPT 100 application

Arcis et al. (2015)

NccA 15000

LABEN/Proel

5–20

3–8

BaO–W

Heater

LM

Italy

PPS X000 and RIT-XT application

Arcis et al. (2015)

RHHC

Rafael

0.5–1.2

1–2.5

BaO–W

Heaterless

QM

Israel

100–300 W Hall thruster cathode

By Author

LHC-5

LIP

0.8–5

1.36

LaB6

Heater

FM

China

Flight LIPS-200 Ion thruster and LHT-100 Hall Thruster

Jia et al. (2015)

HIT Cathode

HIT

5–8.3

4

LaB6

Heaterless

DM

China

3–5 kW Hall Thruster

Ning et al. (2018)

BUSTLab cathode

BUSTLab

4–15

9–10

LaB6

Heater

LM

Turkey

Development model cathode

Kurt et al. (2017)

HALE Cathode

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)

1–8

0.5–10

Cesium

Heater

LM

Turkey

 

Cherkun and Uluşen (2017)

RIT 10 Cathode

ArianeGroup GmbH

0.2–0.35

0.4

N/A

RF

EM

Germany

 

Aspects of advanced neutralizer development for the RIT-2x family of gridded ion engines

RIT 2× Cathode

ArianeGroup GmbH/Mars Space Ltd.

1.3–4.3

2–9

BaO–W

Heater

EM

Germany

 

Aspects of advanced neutralizer development for the RIT-2x family of gridded ion engines

RFPBN

Leibniz-Institute of Surface Modification

≤ 0.4

≤ 5

N/A

RF

DM

Germany

RF plasma bridge neutralizer

Scholze et al. (2017)

HKN 5000

THALES

0.1–5

0.1–5

W/Os Mixed Metal Matrix

Heater

EM

Germany

Operated with RIT22 (EADS

Koch et al. (2007)

University of Dresden Cathode

University of Dresden

1–3

20

C12A7

Heaterless

LM

Germany

 

Drobny and Tajmar (2017)

PSAC cathode

PSAC/NTU

0.6–1

0.3–1

LaB6

Heater

LM

Singapore

100–300 W Hall thruster cathode

Levchenko et al. (2018c)

SHC-0.3A

Kharkiv Aviation Institute

0.2–1

0.1–1.5

BaO–W

Heaterless

LM

Ukraine

SPT-20M Hall thruster cathode

Loyan et al. (2013)

SHC-2A

Kharkiv Aviation Institute

1–3

1.3

BaO–W

Heaterless

LM

Ukraine

SPT-M70 Hall thruster cathode

Loyan et al. (2013)

SHC-5A

Kharkiv Aviation Institute

2–7

1–10

BaO–W

Heaterless

LM

Ukraine

SPT-100M Hall thruster cathode

Loyan et al. (2013)

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Lev, D.R., Mikellides, I.G., Pedrini, D. et al. Recent progress in research and development of hollow cathodes for electric propulsion. Rev. Mod. Plasma Phys. 3, 6 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41614-019-0026-0

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