Electric space propulsion systems
Examples of our expertise and current research topics are:
- Development of liquid metal ion sources and miniaturization of a liquid metal field emission engine (FEEP) as propulsion system on CubeSats
- Efficient and compact gas ion source with carbon nanotubes as field ionizer for micro ion drives and mass spectrometers
- Miniaturized Hall Thruster and hollow cathode
- Testing of new materials for cathodes/electron emitters and investigation of applications for thermo-electric converters
- Software for the simulation of electric drives and their optimization (example: SMART-1, FEEP development, etc.)