Figure 5
From: Demonstrating a new technology for space debris removal using a bi-directional plasma thruster
(a) Ion saturation currents measured by the Langmuir probes located at z = −35.9 cm (filled square) and +35.9 cm (open circles) as functions of the solenoid currents, where either of the two solenoid currents is maintained at 8 A. (b) Axial profiles of the ion saturation current for (IBL, IBR) = (8 A, 0 A) (open triangles), (8 A, 8 A) (filled circles), and (0 A, 8 A) (open squares), where the lines are added as visual guides. The plasma densities in the plumes exhausted to the left- and right-hand sides of the single propulsion device can be controlled by the magnetic field configuration, resulting from the change in the density profile inside the source tube. When the densities exhausted on both sides are balanced, the zero net thrust is maintained while imparting the force to the target. The solenoids are axially centered at z = ±8.1 cm (Fig. 2).
