US-Austria Cooperative Research: Taylor Cone Formation of Field Emission Thrusters

0304779Boy该奖项旨在与奥地利塞伯斯多夫研究中心空间推进实验室的Martin Tajmar合作，为来自密歇根大学的PI的研究生提供支持。这项合作将通过奥地利实验室的实验活动和稳态代码开发相结合的方式，开发泰勒圆锥体液滴形成的第一原理模型，奥地利实验室是场发射电力推进系统开发的世界领先者。FEEP是一种适用于航天器任务(如激光干涉仪空间天线)的技术，需要亚毫牛顿级别的推力和精确的控制能力。美国和奥地利的团队将研究粘度、瑞利不稳定性形成时间和蒸发离子对流的影响。这些影响的模型将导致未来FEEP推进器的优化电流水平，从而实现给定推力的最大质量效率。该项目还实现了培训目标。该项目将允许参与的研究生从在另一个国家进行研究中受益。他们将培养对周围世界的高度欣赏，同时也学习重要的新技术技能。

0304779BoydThis award supports the PI's graduate student from the University of Michigan in a collaboration with Martin Tajmar of the Space Propulsion Laboratory at the Austrian Research Center in Seibersdorf, Austria. The collaboration will develop a first-principles model for Taylor cone droplet formation through a combination of experimental activities and steady state code development at the Austrian lab, which is a world leader in the development of field emission electric propulsion systems. FEEP is a technology suitable for spacecraft missions (such as the laser interferometer space antenna) requiring thrusts in the sub-milliNewton level and needing precise control abilities. The US and Austrian teams will investigate the effects of viscosity, time of formation of Rayleigh instabilities, and convection of vaporizing ions. A model of those effects will lead to optimized current levels in future FEEP thrusters, thereby achieving maximum mass efficiency for a given thrust.The project also fulfills a training objective. The project will allow the graduate student involved to benefit from performing research in another country. They will develop a heightened appreciation of the world around them while also learning important new technical skills.