Physics of electric propulsion

Electric propulsion (EP) is a technology widely employed for maneuvering spacecraft on orbit. The topics addressed in this collection illustrate the broad range of research areas of interest and the increasing sophistication of numerical and experimental tools being brought to bear on these problems. Several contributions in the special collection focus on research into the physics of less mature or novel EP technologies that may offer highly enabling capabilities. Topics include an analysis of the efficiency and thermal properties of the magnetoplasmadynamic thruster, a type of electromagnetic accelerator that supports operation at extremely high power density, numerical and experimental analyses of novel concepts for plasma acceleration that may provide improvements in thrust density, specific impulse, or lifetime, and experimental and numerical treatments of electrodeless concepts based on radio frequency waves that enable longer lifetime as well as operation on alternative propellants.