Engage Engines! New Research Illuminates Complex Processes Inside Plasma Propulsion Systems for Satellites
If you think plasma thrusters are found only in science fiction, think again. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have been uncovering the physics behind these high-tech engines, which maneuver satellites in space. New research involving computer simulations gives physicists confidence that they can peer into the inner workings of these machines.
Source: DOE (science.energy.gov)