Research

Research Highlights

"We named our thruster the H9 MUSCLE because essentially, we took the H9 thruster and made a muscle car out of it by turning it up to 11—really up to a hundred, if we’re going by accurate scaling."

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High-Power Operation

Magnetically-shielded Hall thrusters are now state-of-the-art, potentially allowing for much higher current densities. How does the performance change at these previously-unexplored operating regimes? How can we push these power limits even further?

Alternative Propellants

The use of molecular propellants on Hall thrusters would enable in-situ resource utilization and multimode propulsion. How can we leverage lessons learned with other propellants to improve its performance? Can we design a high-performing cathode compatible with these propellants?

Pitch Videos

Journal Publications

Mode Transitions in a Magnetically Shielded Hall Thruster. II. Stability Criterion
- Jorns, B.A., Byrne, M.P., Roberts, P.J., Su, L.L., Dale, E.T., and Hofer, R.R. Journal of Applied Physics, 136, 053302 (2024).
- Editor's Pick
Trends in Mass Utilization of a Magnetically Shielded Hall Thruster Operating on Xenon and Krypton
- Su, L.L., Marks, T.A., and Jorns, B.A. Plasma Sources Science and Technology, 33, 065008 (2024).
High-Current Density Performance of a Magnetically Shielded Hall Thruster
- Su, L.L., Roberts, P.J., Gill, T.M., Hurley, W.J., Marks, T.A., Sercel, C.L., Allen, M.G., Whittaker, C.B., Viges, E., and Jorns, B.A. Journal of Propulsion and Power, (2024).
Performance Comparison of a 9-kW Magnetically Shielded Hall Thruster Operating on Xenon and Krypton
- Su, L.L. and Jorns, B.A. Journal of Applied Physics, 130, 163306 (2021).
- Erratum (correction).

Conference Publications

Model Extensibility and Mode Transitions in an RF Cathode Operating on Noble Gases
- Su, L.L., Georgin, M.P., Yamauchi, T., Fernandez, L., Uchizono, N.M., and McDonald, M.S. AIAA SciTech Forum, 2025.
- Erratum (correction).
Operation and Performance of a Magnetically Shielded Hall Thruster at Ultrahigh Current Densities on Xenon and Krypton
- Su, L.L., Roberts, P.J., Gill, T.M., Hurley, W.J., Marks, T.A., Sercel, C.L., Allen, M.G., Whittaker, C.B., Byrne, M.P., Brown, Z.B., Viges, E., and Jorns, B.A. AIAA SciTech Forum, 2023.
- Recipient of the 2023 AIAA Electric Propulsion Best Paper.
- Press release and video.
Investigation into the Efficiency Gap between Krypton and Xenon Operation on a Magnetically Shielded Hall Thruster
- Su, L.L., Marks, T.A., and Jorns, B.A. Internal Electric Propulsion Conference, 2022.
Prediction and Mitigation of the Mode Transition in a Magnetically Shielded Hall Thruster at High-Specific Impulse and Low Power
- Jorns, B.A., Byrne, M.P., Roberts, P.J., Su, L.L., Dale, E.T., and Hofer, R.R. Internal Electric Propulsion Conference, 2022.
Performance at High Current Densities of a Magnetically-Shielded Hall Thruster
- Su, L.L. and Jorns, B.A. AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum, 2021.
- Recipient of Gaseous Electronics Conference 2021 Student Poster Award.
Performance of a 9-kW Magnetically-Shielded Hall Thruster with Krypton
- Su, L.L., Vazsonyi, A.R., and Jorns, B.A. AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum, 2020.
Model for the Increase in Thruster Efficiency from Cross-Channel Coupling in Nested Hall Thrusters
- Su, L.L., Hall, S.J., Cusson, S.E., and Jorns, B.A. International Electric Propulsion Conference, 2019.
Results from the Sheared-Flow Stabilized Z-Pinch and Scaling to Fusion Conditions
- Shumlak, U, McLean, H.S., Nelson, B.A., Schmidt, A.E., Golingo, R.P., Claveau, E.L., Higginson, D.P., Hughes, M.C., Ross, M.P., Barhydt, J.R., Caudle, D.L., Forbes, E.G., Kim, B., Su, L.L., Townsend, R.M., Tummel, K.K., Weber, T.R. IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, 2016.

Dissertation

Performance of a Magnetically Shielded Hall Thruster Operating on Krypton at High Powers
- Su, L.L. University of Michigan, 2023

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