Scope
The Ion Energetics Program has three main purposes:

• Expand the Operational Power, and Specific Impulse, Range of Ion Thrusters
• Extend the Operational Life of Ion Thrusters
• Develop Improved Understanding of Ion Thruster Efficiency and Scaling Relationships

FY04 Goals

• Expand in-house computer modeling capabilities by creating a high performance computer cluster
• Evaluate new software codes for plasma physics modeling efforts with emphasis on ion optics modeling
• Initiate a comprehensive 3D discharge modeling activity, with completion of a primary-electron tracking code
• Investigate performance/stability characteristics of less than 28cm diameter ion thrusters
• Conduct parametric investigations of ECR cathodes to determine performance and life scaling relationships, and assess their suitability as a source of neutralizing electrons for high-power ion thrusters
• Perform measurements of sputter yields of Mo-Xe down to 50 eV and sputter etch rates of Ta-Xe and Mo-Xe at energies between 25 and 50 eV
• Develop diagnostic to in-situ measure Carbon atom number density in plume plasma of an operational ion thruster
• Conduct thruster and plume interactions measurements to quantify the performance and life time effects of a multi-thruster array
• Improve the generalized understanding of ring-cusp discharge chamber plasma phenomena and provide data for validation of discharge chamber models (University of Michigan)