The ion source includes a microwave power supply provided outside main magnetic poles, a radiofrequency waveguide and an antenna configured to introduce a microwave generated by the microwave power supply to a region to which a magnetic field generated by the main magnetic poles is applied, and a magnetic field generation unit provided inside a hole provided in a part of the main magnetic poles and configured to generate a magnetic field in a direction opposite to that of the magnetic field generated by the main magnetic poles. Plasma is generated inside the main magnetic poles by a magnetic field generated by applying the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation unit in the opposite direction to the main magnetic field decreased according to a diameter of the hole and the microwave introduced by the radiofrequency waveguide and the antenna.

The ion source includes a microwave power supply provided outside main magnetic poles, a radiofrequency waveguide and an antenna configured to introduce a microwave generated by the microwave power supply to a region to which a magnetic field generated by the main magnetic poles is applied, and a magnetic field generation unit provided inside a hole provided in a part of the main magnetic poles and configured to generate a magnetic field in a direction opposite to that of the magnetic field generated by the main magnetic poles. Plasma is generated inside the main magnetic poles by a magnetic field generated by applying the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation unit in the opposite direction to the main magnetic field decreased according to a diameter of the hole and the microwave introduced by the radiofrequency waveguide and the antenna.

Systems and methods utilizing successive, axially symmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to heat and accelerate two compact tori towards each other and ultimately collide and compress the compact tori within a central chamber. Alternatively, systems and methods utilizing successive, axially asymmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to heat and accelerate a first compact toroid towards and position within a central chamber and to heat and accelerate a second compact toroid towards the central chamber and ultimately collide and merge the first and second compact toroids and compress the compact merge tori within the central chamber.

Systems and methods utilizing successive, axially symmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to heat and accelerate two compact tori towards each other and ultimately collide and compress the compact tori within a central chamber. Alternatively, systems and methods utilizing successive, axially asymmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to heat and accelerate a first compact toroid towards and position within a central chamber and to heat and accelerate a second compact toroid towards the central chamber and ultimately collide and merge the first and second compact toroids and compress the compact merge tori within the central chamber.

The present technology is directed to plasma systems and associated methods, including propulsion systems for flight vehicles. A representative system includes a plurality of coils. The coils include a first coil positioned along a force axis, a second coil positioned along the force axis and spaced apart from the first coil, and a third coil that is magnetically shielded. A controller is operatively coupled to the coils and is configured to (a) increase energy to the first coil to generate a magnetic field in a portion of the plasma adjacent to the first coil, (b) decrease energy to the first coil and increase energy to the second coil to translate the resulting superposed magnetic field through the plasma to a position adjacent the second coil, and (c) transfer energy from the second coil to the third coil and decrease energy to the second coil to reduce the magnetic field in the plasma.

Systems and methods utilizing successive, axially symmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to heat and accelerate two compact tori towards each other and ultimately collide and compress the compact tori within a central chamber. Alternatively, systems and methods utilizing successive, axially asymmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to heat and accelerate a first compact toroid towards and position within a central chamber and to heat and accelerate a second compact toroid towards the central chamber and ultimately collide and merge the first and second compact toroids and compress the compact merge tori within the central chamber.

Systems and methods utilizing successive, axially symmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to heat and accelerate two compact tori towards each other and ultimately collide and compress the compact tori within a central chamber. Alternatively, systems and methods utilizing successive, axially asymmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to heat and accelerate a first compact toroid towards and position within a central chamber and to heat and accelerate a second compact toroid towards the central chamber and ultimately collide and merge the first and second compact toroids and compress the compact merge tori within the central chamber.

A Hall effect thruster is provided having one or more components fabricated using additive manufacturing techniques. Additive manufacturing can be used to fabricate the propellant distributor and the discharge channel of the thruster. The propellant distributor can be separated from the anode of the thruster and can form the base of the discharge channel. The discharge channel can be detachably connected to the propellant distributor using one of a threaded connection or a snap-fit connection. The discharge channel can have an annular shape and electromagnets and magnetic poles can be placed in the surrounding areas of the discharge channel.

A Hall effect thruster is provided having one or more components fabricated using additive manufacturing techniques. Additive manufacturing can be used to fabricate the propellant distributor and the discharge channel of the thruster. The propellant distributor can be separated from the anode of the thruster and can form the base of the discharge channel. The discharge channel can be detachably connected to the propellant distributor using one of a threaded connection or a snap-fit connection. The discharge channel can have an annular shape and electromagnets and magnetic poles can be placed in the surrounding areas of the discharge channel.

A magnetic confinement system includes a magnetic mirror device that includes a chamber to hold a target plasma and a coil arrangement to generate a magnetic field configuration in the chamber to confine the target plasma in cylindrically-symmetric form in the chamber, the magnetic field configuration having open ends. The magnetic confinement system further includes plasma guns to generate plasma pistons and project the plasma pistons at the open ends of the magnetic field configuration. In operation, the plasma pistons converge towards each other to close the open ends of the magnetic field configuration and to compress and heat the target plasma.