EHD Propulsion Thesis

This work presents a solid-state atmospheric propulsion architecture that eliminates mechanical thrust-producing components entirely. A chemically sustained alkali plasma (sodium-potassium alloy with controlled oxidizer) is magnetically confined within a toroidal alumina chamber by a rotating Möbius-twisted NdFeB permanent magnet. The 180° helical magnetization topology generates a non-axisymmetric magnetic field that prevents electrostatic cancellation, projecting a multi-kilovolt plasma sheath