SPL prides itself in being at the cutting edge of electric propulsion characterization techniques. Our MIT lab space has multiple high-vacuum test facilities outfitted with full suites of ion beam diagnostic instruments including time-of-flight mass spectrometers (TOF), retarding potential analyzers (RPA), Faraday probes, residual gas analyzers (RGA), and more. We also have a custom-built magnetically levitated thrust stand, allowing us to easily validate our ion beam measurements.
Click the images to access the corresponding publication!
Direct Thrust Measurement: MagLev Test Stand
Magnetically levitated thrust stand (MagLev) in SPL’s Astrovac facility.
Comparison of direct thrust measurements from the MagLev thrust stand to indirect thrust estimates inferred from time-of-flight.
Ion Beam Diagnostics
Diagnostic instruments in SPL’s Turbovac high-vacuum facility.
Clockwise from the top left: current-voltage (IV) curves, time-of-flight (TOF) curves, retarding potential analysis (RPA) measurements, angular beam distributions.
Advanced Characterization Techniques
Angular-resolved time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
Electrochemical decomposition of ionic liquid.
Relevant Publications
- Shaik, S. and Lozano, P. “Investigation of Electrochemical Gas Generation in Ion Electrospray Thrusters,” 38th International Electric Propulsion Conference, 2024.
- Corrado, M., Bruno, A., and Lozano, P. “Direct and Indirect Thrust Measurements of Ionic-Liquid Electrospray Thrusters on a Magnetically-Levitated Testbed,” AIAA SciTech Forum, 2024.
- Schroeder, M. et al. “Angular Properties of Ionic Liquid Electrospray Emitters,” AIAA SciTech Forum, 2023.
- Bruno, A. and Lozano, P. “Investigating Variations in Startup Emission Across a Passively Fed Porous Electrospray Thruster,” 37th International Electric Propulsion Conference, 2022.
- Pettersson, G., Jia-Richards, O., and Lozano, P. “Development and Laboratory Testing of a CubeSat-Compatible Staged Ionic-Liquid Electrospray Propulsion System,” AIAA SciTech Forum, 2022.
- Lai, S. and Miller, C. “Retarding Potential Analyzer: Principles, Designs, and Space Applications,” AIP Advances, Vol. 10, No. 9, 2020.
- Miller, C. and Lozano, P. “Measurement of the Dissociation Rates of Ion Clusters in Ionic Liquid Ion Sources,” Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 116, No. 25, 2020.
- Krejci, D. et al. “Emission Characteristics of Passively Fed Electrospray Microthrusters with Propellant Reservoirs,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 54, No. 2, 2017.