Modulating crystal plane orientation to enhance the ablation resistance of lanthanum-tungsten cathode for magnetoplasmadynamic thruster

Key Points

• Improved ablation resistance enhances longevity and effectiveness of the cathode under thrust conditions.
• A cathode with optimized crystal plane orientation shows a notable increase in performance metrics in tests.
• Observational analysis of material properties reveals significant interactions among different crystal orientations.
• Implications for advanced thruster technology highlight the need for further exploration of cathode materials.