Abstract: A Hall effect electric propulsion system having an electromagnet with an internal acceleration chamber and an internal ionizer is disclosed. An aperture formed in one end of the electromagnet opens into the acceleration chamber. The magnetic poles of the electromagnet are positioned non-parallel in relation to each other on opposite sides of the aperture. The ionizer located within the acceleration chamber ionizes a flow of propellant molecules introduced into the acceleration chamber. An electron generator external to the electromagnet directs an electron beam towards an asymmetric magnetic field generated by the electromagnet about the throat. Electrons are trapped in a flux of the magnetic field to form an electron cloud, which functions as a phantom cathode.