Hall thrusters are very efficient and competitive electric propulsion devices for satellites and
are currently in use in a number of telecommunications and government spacecraft. Their …

This contribution presents a short review of electric propulsion (EP) technologies for
satellites and spacecraft. Electric thrusters, also termed ion or plasma thrusters, deliver a low …

This paper provides perspectives on recent progress in understanding the physics of
devices in which the external magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the discharge …

Drastic miniaturization of electronics and ingression of next-generation nanomaterials into
space technology have provoked a renaissance in interplanetary flights and near-Earth …

We demonstrate a technique by which erosion of the acceleration channel in Hall thrusters
can be reduced by at least a few orders of magnitude. The first principles of the technique …

The physics of magnetic shielding in Hall thrusters were validated through laboratory
experiments demonstrating essentially erosionless, high-performance operation. The …

Faraday probes are a common plasma diagnostic used to determine the local ion charge
flux of electric propulsion plumes. Standard practices, guidelines, and recommendations are …

In the last 30 years, numerical models have revealed different physical mechanisms
involved in the Hall thruster functioning leading to a bridge between analytical …

The Hall thruster is a high-efficiency spacecraft propulsion device that utilizes plasma to
generate thrust. The most common variant of the Hall thruster is the stationary plasma …

An alternative Hall thruster architecture that shifts the ionization and acceleration regions
outside the plasma chamber is demonstrated. This unconventional design is here termed a …