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

0304779 boyd该奖项支持来自密歇根大学的PI研究生与奥地利塞伯斯多夫奥地利研究中心空间推进实验室的Martin Tajmar合作。该合作将通过实验活动和奥地利实验室的稳态代码开发相结合，开发泰勒锥液滴形成的第一性原理模型，该实验室在开发场发射电力推进系统方面处于世界领先地位。FEEP是一种适用于航天器任务（如激光干涉仪空间天线）需要推力在亚毫牛顿水平和需要精确控制能力的技术。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推进器的优化当前水平，从而实现给定推力的最大质量效率。该项目还实现了一个培训目标。该项目将使参与的研究生受益于在另一个国家进行研究。他们将在学习重要的新技术技能的同时，提高对周围世界的欣赏。

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.