A Plasma and shockwave observation with pulse repetition in a microwave boosted thruster

Oda, Yasuhisa*; Komurasaki, Kimiya*; Takahashi, Koji; Kasugai, Atsushi; Sakamoto, Keishi

An experiment on microwave beaming propulsion with repetitive pulse was conducted. A millimeter-wave high power gyrotron developed in Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute was used for microwave generator. The velocity of plasma and shock wave propagation was measured. The velocity in the repetitive pulse condition was faster than that in the single pulse condition, and higher velocity was obtained at higher repetition rate due to the hot air remaining in the thruster.