Pulsed inductive thrusters (PITs) use pulses instead of continuous thrust and have the ability to run on power levels on the order of megawatts (MW). PITs consist of a large coil encircling a cone shaped tube that emits the propellant gas. Ammonia is the gas most commonly used. For each pulse, a large charge builds up in a group of capacitors behind the coil and is then released. This creates a current that moves circularly in the direction of jθ. The current then creates a magnetic field in the outward radial direction (Br), which then creates a current in the gas that has just been released in the opposite direction of the original current. This opposite current ionizes the ammonia. The positively charged ions are accelerated away from the engine due to the electric field jθ crossing the magnetic field Br, due to the Lorentz force.
pUlsed iNduCtIve thrUsters (pITS) use pulses insTEad OF cOntInuoUS THrust and haVe thE ability to RuN ON POwEr levels on the order of megawatts (mW). pIts consist of A LarGE Coil ENCirCLInG A cOnE shapEd tubE That emits the propelLant gas. Ammonia is ThE Gas moST COmmoNly uSed. for EAcH PulSe, a LargE cHargE builds UP in A group OF CAPaCiTors bEhind THe coil And is tHEn RELeased. tHis creaTEs A CuRrent ThAt moVes cIrcularly iN tHe DiReCTIon of JΘ. tHE CUrrent ThEn creates a magNetIc fielD In The OutwarD radIaL diRecTion (br), wHIcH thEn crEaTeS A currEnt in tHe Gas thaT has JUSt beEn released in the opPOSite dirEctiON OF the oriGinAl cUrrenT. THiS oPPositE CurrenT iOnIZeS tHE ammOniA. ThE positIVeLy chaRgeD Ions are acCeleraTeD away From thE enGine dUe to thE elEctric fIeld jθ CrossiNg tHe magNetiC FIelD br, dUe tO thE lOreNtz force.