US Patent 12078154 Microplasma-based heaterless, insertless cathode

The present disclosure generally pertains to devices and methods for generating thrust in vehicles, for instance in space applications. A heaterless, insertless hollow cathode utilizes AC and pulsed DC electric fields to ionize the propellant gas and generate a plasma plume. The cathode uses an argon microplasma generated in a quartz tube with a tungsten filament and brass ion collector. Free electrons are then drawn from the plasma plume and supplied to a thruster engine.