This invention belongs to the field of
aerospace propulsion technology and relates to a self-neutralizing
microwave ion thruster and its operating method. The thruster includes a
discharge cavity A and a
discharge cavity B connected by a cavity connection channel.
Discharge cavity A, a
microwave connector, and a positive charge particle extraction
system form
discharge chamber A.
Discharge cavity B, a
microwave connector, and a
negative charge particle extraction
system surround and form discharge chamber B. There is no permanent
magnet on one side of the cavity connection channel of the discharge cavities. The magnetic fields provided by two permanent
magnet arrays have opposite pole directions, creating connected
magnetic field lines inside the cavity connection channel. The connected
magnetic field lines between the two discharge cavities guide the movement of charged particles, connecting the
plasma inside the two discharge cavities, facilitating
charge exchange, maintaining quasi-electroneutrality, and providing internal conditions for plume
neutralization downstream of the thruster. By applying a
DC bias voltage, the positive charge particle extraction
system extracts positive charge particles, and the
negative charge particle extraction system extracts
negative charge particles, achieving plume
neutralization.