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Single Stage Faraday Accelerator with Radio-frequency Assisted Discharge (SS-FARAD)

Abstract

An RF-assisted, pulsed, electrodeless accelerator concept that utilizes a single antenna coil for plasma generation and electromagnetic acceleration is presented. This concept eliminates the need for a separate ionization stage and applied magnetic fields as seen in previous Faraday Accelerator with Radio-frequency Assisted Discharge thrusters, which leads to a lighter, more compact device. Challenges in design arising from the combined circuitry are explored and a circuit topology is proposed and tested. An LC resonator is used to isolate the RF source from the acceleration pulse. It is shown that higher quality factor resonators ensure that less acceleration energy is lost into the RF source. Parasitic effects place an upper limit on the quality factor that can be utilized. Experimentation demonstrates that the acceleration pulse can be sufficiently isolated from the RF source without significant adverse affects on plasma generation.