Optimization of Energy Characteristics of Inductive Discharge in High-Frequency Ion Engines

A procedure for analysis, calculation, and optimization of the parameters of electric system for power supply of inductive discharge is developed. The conditions for the maximum efficiency of the power supply systems in high-frequency ion engines are analyzed. An equivalent circuit of the inductive discharge with capacitive coupling is proposed using the analysis of schemes of different high-frequency ion engines and transformed into a complex equivalent impedance connected in the inductor circuit to calculate matching reactive elements. Equivalent parameters of the plasma of inductive discharge are estimated using the wave model. Calculated and experimental results are used to formulate the main requirements on the laboratory models of the high-frequency oscillators and matching units of the radio-frequency ion engines.