CODE for: WAVES Diagnostic System for Reconstructing Transient Plumes in Unsteady Plasma Thrusters

A novel diagnostic system to characterize the transient exhaust of electrical plasma thrusters is presented. The proposed approach time-reconstructs the cross-sectional expansion of their plume.

This experimental technique consists of an array of electrostatic wire probes biased at the ion saturation regime. The two-dimensional and time-dependent ion current distribution is reconstructed from the probe data using a variable separation algorithm. The inverse problem to solve constitutes a nonlinear system of equations and is described in the following journal paper: "Reconstruction of the transient plume cross-section of a Pulsed Plasma Thruster", S. Barquero, M. Merino, J. Navarro-Cavallé.