1. IN-SPACE PROPULSION
Propulsion figures of merit: thrust, specific impulse, efficiencies.
Propulsive requirements in space missions. Rocket equation.
Chemical versus electric propulsion
Optimum specific impulse
Electric propulsion technologies
Missions with electric propulsion
2. CHEMICAL PROPULSION IN SPACE
Figures of merit in chemical rockets (nozzles): thrust coefficient, characteristic velocity, etcetera.
Monopropellant rockets: cold gas and hydrazine-based rockets.
Bipropellant rockets: analysis of fuels and oxidizers. Review of thermochemistry.
3. ELECTRIC PROPULSION: PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES
Operation principles of Ion and Hall Thrusters.
Maxwell and Fluid equations.
Quasineutrality, Debye sheaths, and plasma wall interaction.
Collisional processes.
Dynamics of magnetized populations.
Generalized Ohm¿s and Fourier¿s laws.
4. GRIDDED ION THRUSTERS
Thruster elements and electrical configuration.
Global model of the discharge chamber: current and power balances.
Grid model: Child¿s model and optimal perveance
Model of expansion of the plasma jet.
Performance laws and efficiencies.
Physics of the hollow cathode: thermionic emission.
Thruster lifetime.
5. HALL EFFECT THRUSTERS
Plasma discharge structure and operational parameters.
Global model: current and energy balances, efficiencies.
Axial and radial fluid models: electron transport, interaction with walls.
Technological aspects: chamber erosion, thermal loads, oscillations, magnetic circuit and topology.
Alternative configurations.