Page 17 - 《真空与低温》2025年第5期

真空与低温 第 31 卷 第 5 期
556 Vacuum and Cryogenics 2025 年 9 月

影 响 空 心 阴 极 筛 选 试 验 中 阳 极 电 压 增 大 的 因 素 研 究

田 恺，贾艳辉，卢鑫婷，陈新伟，田东鹏，陈吉龙，刘明正
（兰州空间技术物理研究所 真空技术与物理重点实验室，兰州 730000）

摘要：针对兰州空间技术物理研究所研制的 LHC-3L 空心阴极在筛选试验激活和老炼阶段阳极电压增大的问
题，利用漂移-扩散理论建立了阳极在羽流区轴向的电子电流收集模型，从理论上对阳极电压增大的因素进行分析，
并给出了相应的试验验证结果，该研究为完善空心阴极试验方法并建立统一筛选试验标准提供理论支撑。
关键词：空心阴极；筛选试验；阳极电压增大
中图分类号：TB71 文献标志码：A 文章编号：1006−7086（2025）05−0556−06
DOI：10.12446/j.issn.1006-7086.2025.05.002

Study on Factors Influencing the Increase in Anode Voltage During Hollow Cathode Screening Tests

TIAN Kai，JIA Yanhui，LU Xinting，CHEN Xinwei，TIAN Dongpeng，CHEN Jilong，LIU Mingzheng
（Science and Technology on Vacuum Technology and Physics Laboratory，
Lanzhou Institute of Physics，Lanzhou 730000，China）

Abstract：Regarding the LHC-3L hollow cathode developed by the Lanzhou Institute of Physics，this study investigates
the issue of increased anode voltage during the activation and burn-in stages of screening tests. By applying the drift-diffu-
sion theory，a model for electron current collection along the axial direction in the plume region of the anode was established.
Theoretical analysis was conducted on the factors contributing to the increase in anode voltage，and corresponding experi-
mental verification results were presented. This research provides support for improving hollow cathode testing methods and
ultimately establishing testing standards. The anode voltage of a hollow cathode is a critical indicator for evaluating its dis-
charge stability. An increase in anode voltage can lead to a shortened lifespan of the hollow cathode and oscillation in the
thrust output of the electric propulsion system. Therefore，screening is necessary after the mass production of hollow cath-
odes. With the growing demand for electric propulsion in space applications，there is an urgent need to establish a refined
evaluation system and unified screening test standards. This paper begins by introducing the electron emission principle and
screening test methods of the LHC-3L hollow cathode developed by the Lanzhou Institute of Physics. A formula for the axial-
ly collected electron current density J e at the anode of hollow cathode，based on drift-diffusion theory，was established. The
functional relationship between J e and ν en （the electron-Xenon atom collision frequency），ν ei （the electron-Xenon ion colli-
sion frequency），V k （the keeper voltage of hollow cathode），V a （the anode voltage of hollow cathode），d ak （the distance be-
tween the keeper and anode in hollow cathode），n k （the plasma density at the keeper orifice），n a （the plasma density at the an-
ode）as well as T e （electron temperature in plasma）was presented. Finally，verification tests were conducted on the TS-5C hol-
low cathode screening test system using the typical LHC-3L products to examine the effect of the number of screening tests，
d ak ， ˙ m Xe （the mass flow rate of Xenon），V k on the increase in anode voltage. The verification results were consistent with the
predictions of the theoretical formula. This study provides a reference for refining the screening test methods of hollow cath-
odes and establishing a unified testing standard.
Key words：hollow cathode；screening test；anode voltage increase

0 引言 硼化镧（LaB 6 ）空心阴极（发射电流为 3A 级），主要

LHC-3L 是兰州空间技术物理研究所研制的六 用于小功率离子和霍尔电推进系统。作为电推进

收稿日期：2025−05−25
基金项目：甘肃省青年科技基金（23JRRA1361）；真空技术与物理国防科技重点实验室基金（HTKJ2022KL510003）
作者简介：田恺，硕士，高级工程师。E-mail：tiankay@163.com