Thrust of a Hollow Cathode Thrusters: Influence of the Applied Magnetic Field

Hollow Cathode Thrusters are small electric propulsion devices developed starting form hollow cathodes, used already in the ‘60s as sources of electrons for GIEs and HETs. A T6 HCT has been tested with a direct thrust balance with and without an external magnetic field in the orifice region. The discharge voltage, thrust and Isp increase with the application of the magnetic field while the thrust efficiency decreases.