Detail publikačního výsledku

Current progress in the development of an ECR plasma source for atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion system

Šťastný Marek, Mgr. Mrózek Kryštof, Mgr. Juřík Karel, Ing. Drexler Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D. Sedlář Jan, Ing. Havlíček Lukáš, Ing. Novotný Michal, Ing. Obrusník Adam, Mgr., Ph.D.

Originální název

Current progress in the development of an ECR plasma source for atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion system

Anglický název

Current progress in the development of an ECR plasma source for atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion system

Druh

Článek WoS

Originální abstrakt

Abstract This contribution reports on the experimental demonstration of plasma ignition in an electron-cyclotron-resonance atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion source at pressures representative of very low Earth orbit. Using a MHz-range birdcage resonator in combination with a tailored magnetic field, we achieved sustained plasma discharge at pressures consistent with conditions expected after intake compression at altitudes near 200 km. The scalability of the birdcage resonator with increasing forward power is explored, revealing the potential for future improvement regarding power scaling of the thruster. These findings identify both the feasibility of electrodeless ignition at VLEO pressures, and the engineering limits imposed by resonator heating. We further discuss quantitative links between measured ion currents, estimated thrust, and extraction efficiency. Our results establish critical design insights for scaling ABEP technology toward flight-ready operation.

Anglický abstrakt

Abstract This contribution reports on the experimental demonstration of plasma ignition in an electron-cyclotron-resonance atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion source at pressures representative of very low Earth orbit. Using a MHz-range birdcage resonator in combination with a tailored magnetic field, we achieved sustained plasma discharge at pressures consistent with conditions expected after intake compression at altitudes near 200 km. The scalability of the birdcage resonator with increasing forward power is explored, revealing the potential for future improvement regarding power scaling of the thruster. These findings identify both the feasibility of electrodeless ignition at VLEO pressures, and the engineering limits imposed by resonator heating. We further discuss quantitative links between measured ion currents, estimated thrust, and extraction efficiency. Our results establish critical design insights for scaling ABEP technology toward flight-ready operation.

Klíčová slova

Atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion;Very low earth orbit;Electron cyclotron resonance;ion source;Electrodeless design

Klíčová slova v angličtině

Atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion;Very low earth orbit;Electron cyclotron resonance;ion source;Electrodeless design

Autoři

Šťastný Marek, Mgr. Mrózek Kryštof, Mgr. Juřík Karel, Ing. Drexler Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D. Sedlář Jan, Ing. Havlíček Lukáš, Ing. Novotný Michal, Ing. Obrusník Adam, Mgr., Ph.D.

Rok RIV

2026

Vydáno

27.01.2026

Nakladatel

Springer Nature

Periodikum

CEAS Space Journal

Číslo

January

Stát

Rakouská republika

Strany od

1

Strany do

9

Strany počet

9

URL

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12567-026-00700-8

Plný text v Digitální knihovně

http://hdl.handle.net/11012/256482

BibTex

@article{BUT200652,
  author="Marek {Šťastný} and Kryštof {Mrózek} and Karel {Juřík} and Petr {Drexler} and Jan {Sedlář} and Lukáš {Havlíček} and Michal {Novotný} and Adam {Obrusník}",
  title="Current progress in the development of an ECR plasma source for atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion system",
  journal="CEAS Space Journal",
  year="2026",
  number="January",
  pages="9",
  doi="10.1007/s12567-026-00700-8",
  issn="1868-2502",
  url="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12567-026-00700-8"
}