Michigan Technological University
Department of Physics

is pleased to announce a colloquium

with

Lyon Brad King

The physics of plasma spacecraft propulsion

While sounding like a futuristic laboratory curiosity, plasma thrusters are widely employed on current spacecraft. There are currently over 100 spacecraft in orbit employing plasma propulsion. The devices rely on electrothermal, electrostatic, and electromagnetic acceleration of ionized propellant for thrust, providing order-of-magnitude mass reductions when compared with chemical (combustion) rockets. This seminar will begin with a discussion of the mission advantages afforded by plasma propulsion. Practical design trade-offs inherent with the technology will be presented from first principles. A study of the technology state-of-the-art will be demonstrated by analyzing the plasma physics of two leading devices: gridded electrostatic ion engines and electromagnetic Hall-effect thrusters. The Ion engines and Hall thrusters are candidate technologies for the new NASA Project Prometheus. The Prometheus program is a multi-billion dollar effort to fly nuclear-electric powered spacecraft in the near term (less than 10 years). The physical hurdles and diagnostic needs in the Prometheus development path will be presented in the interest of inspiring collaboration between the plasma physics, AMO, and space propulsion research communities.

Biography

Prof. Lyon King earned his Ph.D. degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1998. Dr. King is currently an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University. Dr. King's area of expertise is plasma dynamics and experimental plasma diagnostics. Prior to joining the faculty of MTU, Dr. King spent two years (1998-2000) as a post-doctoral researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado. Working in the Ion Storage Group of the Time & Frequency Division, Dr. King performed experimental studies on laser-cooled one-component plasmas within a Penning trap.

Thursday, September 18, 2003

4:00 p.m., Fisher 139

Refreshments will be served

MTU | Physics | Colloquium