Stochastic Emission in Passively Fed Single-Emitter Porous-Media Ionic Liquid Ion Sources

What is it about?

What is it about? Ionic liquid ion source thrusters are a developing type of in-space electric propulsion that produce thrust by evaporating and accelerating ions from arrays of sharp emitters. Measuring the total performance of a thruster with hundreds or thousands of emitters obscures how any single emitter is performing. This research shows that emission behavior of individual emitters is much more erratic than the summed behavior of an emitter array. Why is it important? Ionic liquid ion source thrusters are a promising method for increasing the capabilities of some satellite missions. To further the development of this technology, the behavior of single emitters, which drives the total efficiency and lifetime of the thruster, must be better understood.

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