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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Optimization, Test and Diagnostics of Miniaturized Hall Thrusters
Published on: February 16, 2019
Performance of the redesigned inductively driven transmission line current diagnostic for the Z pulsed power facility
Stacie Hernandez1,2, Katherine M Chandler1, Brian T Hutsel1
1Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA.
Abstract:
A redesign of the inductively driven transmission line (IDTL) current monitor took place due to the discovery of the discrepancy between the magnetic field measurements of the two B-dots sensors. The IDTL redirects a small amount of Z's magnetic energy by passively coupling to the magnetic fields of the final power feed of the machine. The monitor is composed of a pair of B-dots oppositely oriented to measure the current that is siphoned through the secondary circuit, enabling common-mode noise cancellation. The redesign of the current monitor will not only enable the diagnostic to measure comparable magnetic fields between the two monitors but also will maintain its compact design while completing common-mode noise elimination. The discrepancy measurements of the magnetic field were identified through simulations (conducted in COMSOL Multiphysics) and calibration measurements that displayed a sensitivity difference by a factor of two. The redesigned IDTL monitor will correct this discrepancy and increase accuracy on the electrical measurements for Z experiments.
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