Spatially Resolved Momentum Flux Measurements for Thruster Plume Diagnostics

This paper reports on our new realization of a force and simulteanously current measuring probe for ion, plasma and gas beams with spatial resolution. First measurements have been performed in an ion beam experiment based on a three-grid electron cyclotron resonance ion source. Inside a 530-liter test chamber a two axes movable measurement platform carries simultaneously the force probe together with a Faraday cup and an emissive probe enabling axial and radial scans inside the plume.