Reduction of the Anode Fall in a Coaxial Plasma Thruster with an Applied Magnetic Nozzle

The Coaxial Thruster Experiment at the Los Alamos National Laboratory has demonstrated 10 ms quasi‐steady operation and ideal MHD‐like performance. Previous experiments utilized an unoptimized applied magnetic configuration in which field lines intercepted both thruster electrodes. These experiments demonstrated the ability of magnetic connection between the plasma and the electrodes to control the anode fall. In this work we report on the effect of an evolved applied magnetic nozzle which provides magnetic connection of the electrodes to the bulk of the plasma without direct magnetic connection of the electrodes. This magnetic nozzle configuration significantly reduces the anode fall fraction and thus may provide a promising means of improving MPD thruster efficiency.