Physics and instabilities of low-temperature E × B plasmas for spacecraft propulsion and other applications

• Published in: Physics of plasmas Vol. 30; no. 5
• Main Authors: Boeuf, Jean-Pierre, Smolyakov, Andrei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melville American Institute of Physics 01.05.2023
• Subjects: Beam injection; Cyclotrons; Devices; Discharge; Electric fields; Electron drift instability; Electron transport; Hall thrusters; Ion sources; Ionization waves; Ions; Low temperature; Negative ions; Neutral beams; Physics; Plasma; Plasma Physics; Plasma processing; Rotating plasmas; Rotation; Spacecraft propulsion; Spokes

Low-temperature E × B plasmas are used in various applications, such as Hall thrusters for satellite propulsion, ion sources and magnetron discharges for plasma processing, and negative ion sources for neutral beam injection in fusion. The plasmas in these devices are partially magnetized, meaning t...