Poly Electric Propulsion and Plasma Research

Poly Electric Propulsion and Plasma Research (PEPPR) is a recently established undergraduate research group focused on providing students academic and technical experience with electric propulsion, plasma diagnostics, and space environment systems. Our members design, manufacture, and extensively test electric propulsion (EP) thrusters gaining a deeper understanding of plasma physics, propulsion, and electrical physics. We also design and operate a suite of plasma diagnostic instruments to accurately characterize and assess thrusters and plasma sources, such as Langmuir probe, retarding potential analyzer, and a quartz crystal microbalance.

 

We are currently building a low power Hall Effect Thruster (HET) designed to mirror the SPT-70, providing us a baseline to compare our new thruster to. We are also working with legacy RFET Thrusters for potential air-breathing applications, Gridded Ion Thrusters, hollow cathodes, and other experimental forms of EP.