Inventors:
Paul D. Reader - Fort Collins CO
Harold R. Kaufman - Fort Collins CO
Assignee:
Ion Tech, Inc. - Fort Collins CO
International Classification:
H01J 150, H05H 100
Abstract:
An electron-bombardment ion source has a chamber into which an ionizable propellant is introduced. Electrons flowing from a cathode to an anode serve to ionize the propellant. The resulting ions are accelerated out of the chamber. To increase the efficiency of ionization of the propellant by the electrons, a magnetic field is established within the chamber. To that end, there are a plurality of successively-spaced segments of electrically-conductive magnetic material. The segments are interconnected so as, collectively, to serve as the anode. Individually adjacent ones of the segments are respectively polarized as magnetic opposites, the segments together serving to establish the magnetic field.