Emission spectra of electric propulsion thrusters

Accurate measurement of emission spectra of electric propulsion devices provides fast non-invasive way of operational regimes characterization and possible optimization. First, we present comparative spectra of three different thrusters [1] running on xenon propellant. Next, we analyze spectra of a versatile thruster running on noble and diatomic gases, to emphasize complex qualitative composition of the plasma exhaust. \\[4pt] [1] O. Batishchev and T. Matlock, Spectroscopic Characterization of the Electric Propulsion Thrusters, Final Report for the AFOSR grant FA9550-08-1-0223, -260p, 2010.