Ion thrusters is a unique form of technology that has several advantages and disadvantages when considering an optimal propulsion system for space transportation. An Ion thrust propulsion is a type of propulsion where ions are accelerated from electrostatic fields to generate thrust.
There are so many types, configurations, and designs of Ion thrusters that go about accelerating ions in their own way.
Electrostatic
Gridded Ion thruster
Hall effect thruster
Field-emission electric propulsion
Radioisotope thruster
Electrothermal
Resistojets
Arcjets
Electromagnetic
Pulsed inductive thrusters
Magnetoplasmadynamic thruster
Electrodeless plasma thrusters
Helicon Thruster
Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR)
This article will give a brief description of a hall effect thruster and later on branch other descriptions of different types of thrusters.
Hall effect ion thrusters use the hall effect in the thrust chamber using radial magnetic fields to create an axial electric field. Electrons are held at the outlet of the thruster by the electric field creating a net negative charge. The electrons are supplied by a cathode near the end of the thruster. The inlet of the thruster is supplied with a gaseous propellant (usually xenon) that is positively charged with an anode. The positively charged propellant is accelerated by the axial electric field towards colliding with the electrons at the outlet to generate thrust.