Development and experimental validation of a two-axis thrust stand for the characterization of electric thruster thrust vectoring.

A two-axis thrust stand is developed and validated experimentally, enabling direct and simultaneous measurements of two components of the thrust vector of an electric thruster. It is made of two piled-up single-axis stages, each having a hanging deformable parallelogram geometry. A mass deposition calibration method is used to calibrate the thrust stand, including crosstalk between axes.

Ion thrusters for electric propulsion: Scientific issues developing a niche technology into a game changer.

The transition from old space to new space along with increasing commercialization has a major impact on space flight, in general, and on electric propulsion (EP) by ion thrusters, in particular. Ion thrusters are nowadays used as primary propulsion systems in space. This article describes how these changes related to new space affect various aspects that are important for the development of EP systems.

3D ion velocity distribution function measurement in an electric thruster using laser induced fluorescence tomography.

Measuring the full ion velocity distribution function (IVDF) by non-intrusive techniques can improve our understanding of the ionization processes and beam dynamics at work in electric thrusters. In this paper, a Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) tomographic reconstruction technique is applied to the measurement of the IVDF in the plume of a miniature Hall effect thruster. A setup is developed to move the laser axis along two rotation axes around the measurement volume.

E. coli electroeradication on a closed loop circuit by using milli-, micro- and nanosecond pulsed electric fields: comparison between energy costs.

One of the different ways to eradicate microorganisms, and particularly bacteria that might have an impact on health consists in the delivery of pulsed electric fields (PEFs). The technologies of millisecond (ms) or microsecond (μs) PEF are still well known and used for instance in the process of fruit juice sterilization. However, this concept is costly in terms of delivered energy which might be too expensive for some other industrial processes.

Effect of nanosecond pulsed electric field on Escherichia coli in water: inactivation and impact on protein changes.

Aims: This article shows the effect of nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) on Escherichia coli, which could imply a durable change in protein expressions and then impacted the phenotype of surviving bacteria that might lead to increase pathogenicity.

Methods And Results: The effects of nsPEF on E. coli viability and membrane permeabilization were investigated.