Development of a Micro Plasma Thruster using Ferroelectric Materials

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Small satellites have been attracting great interest to reduce the total mission costs. We have proposed a micro plasma thruster using ferroelectric materials, sandwiched by metal electrodes. When a high voltage bipolar pulse is applied between the electrodes, the plasma is produced on the ferroelectric surfaces, and simultaneously, the ions and electrons are repelled from the plasma by the applied electric fields. The ions emitted produce the thrust, and the electrons emitted give self-neutralization.