Headed by Dr. Scott Doyle, the Plasma Science Research Group (PSRG) develops and employs state-of-the-art numerical modelling techniques to address fundamental and applied plasma physics problems relating to energy storage, plasma materials processing, plasma propulsion, and nuclear fusion. Collaboration with the Advanced Centre for Energy and Sustainability (ACES) facilitates plasma source fabrication, experimental diagnosis, and industrial deployment.
Space Propulsion
Pocket Rocket
The Pocket Rocket is a radio-frequency capacitively coupled electrothermal microthruster. Designed for use on CubeSats the Pocket Rocket operates on very low power, typically < 50W, and produces thrusts in the range of 1-10 mN. My work involved the numerical modelling and experimental validation of the device for operation in different propellants, and with multi-harmonic tailored voltage waveforms.
1) S. J. Doyle, et. al., “Decoupling ion energy and flux in intermediate pressure plasmas utilizing tailored voltage waveforms”, Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. Special Edition on Tailored Voltage Waveforms, vol. 29, p. 124002, (2020), doi:10.1088/1361-6595/abc82f
2) S. J. Doyle, et. al., “Inducing localised beam-like ion energy distribution functions in intermediate-pressure plasmas”, Physics of Plasmas 26, 073519 (2019), doi:10.1063/1.5111401
3) S. J. Doyle, et. al., “Control of electron, ion and neutral heating in a radio-frequency electrothermal microthruster via dual-frequency voltage waveforms”, Plasma Sources Sci. Technol., vol. 28, p. 035019, (2019), doi:10.1088/1361-6595/ab0984
4) S. J. Doyle, et. al., “Spatio-temporal plasma heating mechanisms in a radio-frequency electrothermal microthruster”, Plasma Sources Sci. Technol., vol. 27, p. 085011, (2018), doi:10.1088/1361-6595/aad79a
Home 