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Hybrid simulations in the radial-axial plane of an annular Hall
Thruster, based on the model developed by J. M. Fife (MIT, 1998), are
used to study the interior and near-field region of a Hall Thruster
plasma. In the past, these simulations have been used to examine
various phenomena such as channel wall erosion, background pressure,
charge exchange collisions, heavy-particle wall interactions, and
neutral particle injection. Also, measurements of the electron mobility
in a laboratory Hall Thruster have permitted the study of electron
cross-field transport through comparison of simulated discharge
properties using experimentally-measured, Bohm-type, and classical
mobilities. Presently, active areas of interest include the study of
axial resistive instabilities, the use of novel propellants such as
Bismuth and Nitrogen, and the implementation of a time-varying,
calculated electron mobility using an empirical shear-based approach.
A high fidelity Hall Thruster simulation has been formulated in the axial-azimuthal coordinate plane.This numerical model incorporates the dynamic continuum equations for the both the electrons and ions and includes the often neglected contributions of electron momentum and unsteady electron flow.The coordinate system selected for this simulation, as well as the inclusion of non-linear electron momentum terms, allows this model to self consistently evolve fundamental plasma oscillations in the electron and ion fields and predict non-linear wave coupling behavior.The goal of this research is to understand the connection between plasma oscillations and the enhanced electron mobility observed in the Hall Thruster.
Hall Thruster Simulations
Radial-Axial Hybrid Simulations - Related Papers
Axial-Azimuthal Fluid Simulations - Related Papers
A high fidelity Hall Thruster simulation has been formulated in the axial-azimuthal coordinate plane.This numerical model incorporates the dynamic continuum equations for the both the electrons and ions and includes the often neglected contributions of electron momentum and unsteady electron flow.The coordinate system selected for this simulation, as well as the inclusion of non-linear electron momentum terms, allows this model to self consistently evolve fundamental plasma oscillations in the electron and ion fields and predict non-linear wave coupling behavior.The goal of this research is to understand the connection between plasma oscillations and the enhanced electron mobility observed in the Hall Thruster.