Spectral characterization of the BHT-200 thruster operation on argon propellant*

With this study we complete non-invasive passive emission characterization of the BHT-200 Hall Effect Thruster operation on common noble gases [1,2]. First, vacuum EUV spectra of the HET’s running on Ar propellant are collected and the emission lines of prime plasma species are identified. Next, FUV-MUV spectrum is examined for notorious boron nitride lining erosion products as a function of the discharge parameters. Finally, the upgraded high-resolution Doppler spectroscopy system [3] is used to measure the axial and azimuthal velocities of Ar⁺ ions along the plasma plume. Results are compared to the similar Xe and Kr data [1,2].

[1] O.Batishchev, A.Hyde, J.Szabo, Spectral Characterization of Hall Effect Thruster Exhaust, 62nd Annual APS DPP Meeting, NP14.00013, November 2020.

[2] O.Batishchev, A.Hyde, J.Szabo, Spectral characterization of the Hall Effect thruster operating on Kr propellant, 63rd Annual APS DPP Meeting, PP11.00028, November 2021.

[3] A. Hyde and O. Batishchev, Review of Sci. Instr. 91(063502), June 2020.