Fully kinetic model of plasma dynamics in discharge of plasma thruster with closed electron drift

S. V. Irishkov

Matematičeskoe modelirovanie, Tome 18 (2006) no. 6, pp. 70-84

Résumé

This paper describes numerical algorithm and fully kinetic model of plasma dynamics in plasma thruster with closed electron drift (Hall Effect thruster). Besides testing of numerical algorithm a number of computational experiments aimed for model validation are conducted. Theoretical model is two-dimensional in space and three dimensional in velocities and considers electrons, ions and neutrals. Kinetic equations are solved using particles method and Particle-In-Cell methodology while collisions are modeled by Monte-Carlo method. Electric field is self-consistent and found from Poisson equation solution. Properties of different materials of discharge chamber interior were taken into account as boundary conditions. Secondary electron emission is taken into account too. In comparison to modern fully kinetic models current model doesn't artificially decrease heavy particles mass. This allows avoiding potential errors in model statement and incorrect interpretation of gained results. Performance of plasma thruster and spatial plasma parameters distributions were gained from computational experiments. All results and trends are in a good agreement with experimental data. With the help of simulation results there was gained an idea about structure of discharge in Hall Effect thruster. In particular there were found dependence of plasma parameters distributions on magnetic field topology.