Editing Pulsed inductive thruster (section)

== Operation ==

A [[nozzle]] releases a puff of gas which spreads across a flat spiraling [[induction coil]] of [[wire]] about 1 meter across. A bank of [[capacitor]]s releases a pulse of [[high voltage]] [[electric current]] of tens of kilovolts lasting 10 microseconds into the coil, generating a radial magnetic field. This [[electromagnetic induction|induces]] a circular electrical field in the gas, [[Ionization|ionizing]] it and causing [[charged particle]]s (free [[electrons]] and [[ion]]s) to revolve in the opposite direction as the original pulse of current. Because the motion of this induced current flow is perpendicular to the magnetic field, the [[Plasma (physics)|plasma]] is accelerated out into space by the [[Lorentz force]] at a high exhaust velocity (10 to 100&nbsp;km/s).<ref>Dailey, C. Lee; Lovberg, Ralph H. (July 1993). [https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19930023164/downloads/19930023164.pdf "The PIT MkV Pulsed Inductive Thruster"]. NASA CR 191155.</ref>