A Radio-Frequency Ion Thruster with Magnetic Shielding of the Discharge Chamber’s Walls

Results are presented from a computational study of optimizing the shape of the main elements of a radio-frequency ion thruster: its discharge chamber and the grids of its ion-extraction system. The possibility is considered of improving the fundamental characteristics of thrusters and ion sources by using an additional magnetostatic field in the region of the RF discharge. Calculations reveal the optimum geometry of the discharge chamber and the grids of the RIT ion-extraction system, and the configuration of the additional magnetic field at which the best values of the fundamental characteristics are achieved.