US 12,078,154 B1
Microplasma-based heaterless, insertless cathode
Kunning Gabriel Xu, Brownsboro, AL (US); and Ryan Patrick Gott, Summerville, SC (US)
Assigned to The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL (US)
Filed by Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama, for and on behalf of The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL (US)
Filed on Oct. 5, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/153,297.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/568,505, filed on Oct. 5, 2017.
Int. Cl. F03H 1/00 (2006.01); B64G 1/40 (2006.01); H01J 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC F03H 1/0087 (2013.01) [B64G 1/405 (2013.01); F03H 1/0018 (2013.01); H01J 1/025 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heaterless cathode which is insertless comprising:
a power supply configured to supply a current;
a hollow dielectric tube, the hollow dielectric tube has a first end connected to an intake tube and a second end connected to an ion collector,
the intake tube receives a flow of a propellant and directs the flow of the propellant through the first end into the hollow dielectric tube;
an electrode positioned within the hollow dielectric tube, wherein the hollow dielectric tube and the electrode define a volume that extends from around the electrode in the hollow dielectric tube, wherein the flow of the propellant flows through the volume, the electrode being electrically connected to the power supply so as to receive the current from the power supply, wherein the current causes the electrode to generate an electric field that ionizes the flow of the propellant into a plasma as the flow of the propellant is passing through the electric field; and
the ion collector being configured to seal the second end of the hollow dielectric tube except for at least one hole through the ion collector, wherein the ion collector draws the electrons from the plasma out of the second end and through the at least one hole during operation of the heaterless cathode.