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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Optimization, Test and Diagnostics of Miniaturized Hall Thrusters
Published on: February 16, 2019
Note: An advanced in situ diagnostic system for characterization of electric propulsion thrusters and ion beam
C Bundesmann1, M Tartz, F Scholze
1Leibniz-Institut für Oberflächenmodifizierung e.V., Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany. carsten.bundesmann@iom-leipzig.de
Abstract:
We present an advanced diagnostic system for in situ characterization of electric propulsion thrusters and ion beam sources. The system uses a high-precision five-axis positioning system with a modular setup and the following diagnostic tools: a telemicroscopy head for optical imaging, a triangular laser head for surface profile scanning, a pyrometer for temperature scanning, a Faraday probe for current density mapping, and an energy-selective mass spectrometer for beam characterization (energy and mass distribution, composition). The capabilities of our diagnostic system are demonstrated with a Hall effect thruster SPT-100D EM1.
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