Patent ID: 6250070
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: F03H,H01J,H05H

Abstract:
An ion thruster, comprising:a source of a plasma; andan ion-optics system located in sufficient proximity to the source of the plasma to extract ions therefrom along a thrust axis, the ion-optics system comprising at least two grids arranged in a facing-but-spaced-apart relationship to each other, each grid comprisinga peripheral region defining a grid plane perpendicular to the thrust axis,a first region of curvature adjacent to the peripheral region, the first region of curvature being convexly curved relative to the grid plane, anda second region of curvature along the thrust axis such that the first region of curvature lies between the second region of curvature and the peripheral region, the second region of curvature being concavely curved relative to the grid plane.