Modeling the Characteristics of an Inductively Coupled Plasma Antenna for Use in a Micro-Propulsion System

Sonya Shawver, Jim Browning

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

An ion thruster for small satellites is under development. The thruster uses an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) generated by a flat spiral antenna for the ion source. The antenna is fabricated using the Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (LTCC) materials system. The antenna has been modeled using COMSOL Multiphysics ® simulation software. The antenna operating frequency range (600 MHz to 1 GHz) in LTCC (ε r =7.8) results in a wavelength on the same order of magnitude as the total length of conductor in the antenna. An analysis of the antenna's behavior is presented.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalIEEE 55th International Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems
DOIs
StatePublished - 5 Aug 2012

Keywords

  • antenna measurements
  • antennas
  • electric fields
  • magnetic field measurement
  • plasmas
  • radio frequency

EGS Disciplines

  • Electrical and Computer Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Modeling the Characteristics of an Inductively Coupled Plasma Antenna for Use in a Micro-Propulsion System'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this