Miniaturized Plasma Sources: Can Technological Solutions Help Electric Micropropulsion?

In this paper, we examine several different types of miniaturized plasma sources that have been developed for nonpropulsion applications, but could be useful for the advancement of electric propulsion. With the same or similar physical principles and often similar design solutions, such sources suggest useful pathways for modernization and integration of presently available well established as well as emerging miniaturized plasma sources into space thruster systems. Features related to miniaturization and optimization of the technological plasma sources will provide useful insights for consideration by the electric propulsion specialists. It is not the aim of this paper to show an entire spectrum of technological microplasma systems, but rather to outline possible future trends and perspectives for the miniaturized technological plasmas in relation to space micropropulsion systems.