Empirical electron cross-field mobility in a Hall effect thruster

Electron transport across the magnetic field in Hall effect thrusters is still an open question. Models have so far assumed 1∕B2 or 1∕B scaling laws for the “anomalous” electron mobility, adjusted to reproduce the integrated performance parameters of the thruster. We show that models based on such mobility laws predict very different ion velocity distribution functions (IVDF) than measured by laser induced fluorescence (LIF). A fixed spatial mobility profile, obtained by analysis of improved LIF measurements, leads to much better model predictions of thruster performance and IVDF than 1∕B2 or 1∕B mobility laws for discharge voltages in the 500–700V range.

[1]  L. Garrigues,et al.  Anomalous cross field electron transport in a Hall effect thruster , 2006 .

[2]  L. Garrigues,et al.  Low frequency oscillations in a stationary plasma thruster , 1998 .

[3]  L. Garrigues,et al.  Critical assessment of a two-dimensional hybrid Hall thruster model: Comparisons with experiments , 2004 .

[4]  W. Hargus,et al.  Ion Velocity Measurements Within the Acceleration Channel of a Low-Power Hall Thruster , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[5]  K. Makowski,et al.  Wall material effects in stationary plasma thrusters. II. Near-wall and in-wall conductivity , 2003 .

[6]  L. Garrigues,et al.  Role of anomalous electron transport in a stationary plasma thruster simulation , 2003 .

[7]  W. Hargus,et al.  Near Exit Plane Velocity Field of a 200-Watt Hall Thruster , 2008 .

[8]  N. Meezan,et al.  Anomalous electron mobility in a coaxial Hall discharge plasma. , 2000, Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics.

[9]  L. Garrigues,et al.  Two-dimensional model of a stationary plasma thruster , 2002 .

[10]  François Rogier,et al.  Determination of the ionization and acceleration zones in a stationary plasma thruster by optical spectroscopy study: Experiments and model , 2001 .

[11]  M. Cappelli,et al.  Comparison of hybrid Hall thruster model to experimental measurements , 2006 .

[12]  J. Adam,et al.  Study of stationary plasma thrusters using two-dimensional fully kinetic simulations , 2004 .

[13]  S. Tsikata,et al.  Dispersion relations of electron density fluctuations in a Hall thruster plasma, observed by collective light scattering , 2009 .

[14]  A. Gallimore,et al.  Internal plasma potential profiles in a laboratory-model Hall thruster , 2001 .

[15]  L. Garrigues,et al.  Physics, simulation and diagnostics of Hall effect thrusters , 2008 .

[16]  I. Boyd,et al.  Modeling of anomalous electron mobility in Hall thrusters , 2006 .

[17]  S. Mazouffre,et al.  Ion diagnostics of a discharge in crossed electric and magnetic fields for electric propulsion , 2009 .

[18]  E. Ahedo,et al.  A two-dimensional hybrid model of the Hall thruster discharge , 2006 .

[19]  S. Mazouffre,et al.  $\hbox{Xe}^{+}$ Ion Transport in the Crossed-Field Discharge of a 5-kW-Class Hall Effect Thruster , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[20]  L. Garrigues,et al.  Method to obtain the electric field and the ionization frequency from laser induced fluorescence measurements , 2009 .

[21]  S. Mazouffre,et al.  Influence of magnetic field and discharge voltage on the acceleration layer features in a Hall effect thruster , 2008 .