| abstract |
A thruster ( 1 ) has a main chamber ( 6 ) defined within a tube ( 2 ). The tube has a longitudinal axis which defines an axis ( 4 ) of thrust; an injector ( 8 ) injects ionizable gas within the tube, at one end of the main chamber. An ionizer ( 124 ) is adapted to ionize the injected gas within the main chamber ( 6 ). A first magnetic field generator ( 12, 14 ) and an electromagnetic field generator ( 18 ) are adapted to generate a magnetized ponderomotive accelerating field downstream of said ionizer ( 124 ) along the direction of thrust on said axis ( 4 ), n The thruster ( 1 ) ionizes the gas, and subsequently accelerates both electrons and ions by the magnetized ponderomotive force. |