Numerical investigation of a Hall thruster plasma

The dynamics of the Hall thruster is investigated numerically in the framework of a one-dimensional, multifluid macroscopic description of a partially ionized xenon plasma using finite element formulation. The model includes neutral dynamics, inelastic processes, and plasma–wall interaction. Owing to disparate temporal scales, ions and neutrals have been described by set of time-dependent equations, while electrons are considered in steady state. Based on the experimental observations, a third order polynomial in electron temperature is used to calculate ionization rate. The results show that in the acceleration channel the increase in the ion number density is related to the decrease in the neutral number density. The electron and ion velocity profiles are consistent with the imposed electric field. The electron temperature remains uniform for nearly two-thirds of the channel; then sharply increases to a peak before dropping slightly at the exit. This is consistent with the predicted electron gyration ve...

[1]  R. S. Robinson,et al.  Physics of closed drift thrusters , 1999 .

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

[3]  A. Bishaev,et al.  Local plasma properties in a Hall-current accelerator with an extended acceleration zone , 1978 .

[4]  M. Keidar,et al.  Plasma flow and plasma–wall transition in Hall thruster channel , 2001 .

[5]  M. Cappelli,et al.  Interior and Exterior Laser-Induced Fluorescence and Plasma Measurements within a Hall Thruster (Postprint) , 2002 .

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

[7]  Dc Daan Schram,et al.  PLASIMO, a general model: I. Applied to an argon cascaded arc plasma , 1999 .

[8]  S. Brown,et al.  Fundamentals of plasma physics , 1977 .

[9]  K. Komurasaki,et al.  Two-dimensional numerical model of plasma flow in a Hall thruster , 1995 .

[10]  V. Kim.  Main Physical Features and Processes Determining the Performance of Stationary Plasma Thrusters , 1998 .

[11]  H. Wilhelmsson,et al.  Review of plasma physics: Vol. 1 (ed. M. A. Leontovich, Consultants Bureau, New York, 1965) pp. 326, $ 12.50 , 1966 .

[12]  E. Ahedo,et al.  One-dimensional model of the plasma flow in a Hall thruster , 2001 .

[13]  R. D. Richtmyer,et al.  Difference methods for initial-value problems , 1959 .

[14]  N. Fisch,et al.  Control of the electric-field profile in the Hall thruster , 2001 .

[15]  L. Conde,et al.  Electron impact ionization by drifting electrons in weakly ionized plasmas. , 2001, Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics.

[16]  M. Mitchner,et al.  Partially ionized gases , 1973 .

[17]  Subrata Roy.  Combining Galerkin matrix perturbation with Taylor weak statement algorithms , 2000 .