초록 ▼

For providing a propulsion device particularly for a spacecraft, comprising a plasma chamber in which a plasma can be produced in a propellant, and a focussing arrangement for focussing an electromagnetic radiation field into a focussing region in the plasma chamber in order to produce the plasma, t

For providing a propulsion device particularly for a spacecraft, comprising a plasma chamber in which a plasma can be produced in a propellant, and a focussing arrangement for focussing an electromagnetic radiation field into a focussing region in the plasma chamber in order to produce the plasma, the propulsion device being highly efficient and controllable, it is proposed to arrange in the plasma chamber a plasma ignition arrangement whereby a material which lowers the plasma breakdown threshold in the propellant can be brought into the focussing region.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A propulsion device particularly for a spacecraft, comprising a plasma chamber (10; 76; 92) in which a plasma is producible in a propellant, and a focussing arrangement (24; 78) for focussing an electromagnetic radiation field (18) into a focussing region (20) in the plasma chamber in order to pr

1. A propulsion device particularly for a spacecraft, comprising a plasma chamber (10; 76; 92) in which a plasma is producible in a propellant, and a focussing arrangement (24; 78) for focussing an electromagnetic radiation field (18) into a focussing region (20) in the plasma chamber in order to produce the plasma, characterised in that a plasma ignition arrangement (26) for bringing a material which lowers the plasma breakdown threshold in the propellant into the focussing region (20) is arranged in the plasma chamber (10; 76; 92).