Three-Dimensional Particle Simulations of Ion Propulsion Plasma Environment for Deep Space 1

Afully three-dimensionalparticle-in-cell simulationmodelwas developed to compute the ionpropulsion induced plasma environment for the Deep Space 1 (DS1) spacecraft. Simulationsare comparedwith in- ightmeasurements of charge-exchange plasma from the ion propulsion diagnostics subsystem on DS1, and the results show good agreement. It is found that the plasma environment of DS1 is dominated by the charge-exchange plasma from the plume. For a typical ion thruster operating condition, the charge exchange plasma near the spacecraft surface has a density ranging from 106 cmi 3 near the thruster to 104 cmi 3 at the opposite end of the spacecraft and a current density ranging from 10i 7 A/cm2 to 10 i 9 A/cm2. It is shown that, for an interplanetary spacecraft with a moderate charging potential, charge-exchange ion back ow is through an expansion process similar to that of the expansion of a mesothermal plasma into a vacuum.

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