Experimental Research on Direction Modulation of Plasma Flow Generated in Helicon Plasma Thruster

The direction modulation of electrical thruster’s flow is based on magnetic field reforming which leads to the orientation altering of plasma flow ejected from the helicon plasma thruster (HPT). The theoretical simulation and experiments are carried out to analyze the effect of magnetic field shifting for HPT. Simulation work shows that the magnetic field is adjustable when the magnetic coils change their position. All the Permutation and Combination are listed for Three coaxial coils. Plasma density fluctuates according to an accessional magnetic field generated periodically. The plasma density is about 6*10¹³ m⁻³ without any modulation and is from 6*10¹³ m⁻³ to 1.5*10¹⁴ m⁻³ when the magnetic field introduced. The plasma flow changes its orientation with 60 degree at most with a modulated frequency which reaches 15 Hz. The reason for the increasement of plasma density is the change of orientation of plasma flow, which verifies that the electric-magnetic coil is effective. More specific work of magnetically modulation and integration will be brought into effect.