Modeling Ion Beam Neutralization and Near-Thruster Plume Interactions

Abstract

Ion thruster plume interactions has been studied extensively in recent years. While ost existing plume models have focused on charge-exchange ion interactions with the spacecraft and/or plume-induced contamination, few studies have examined the detailed physics near the thruster exit. In particular, the ion beam neutralization process and the characteristics of the neutralizing electrons are not well understood. This paper presents a full-PIC model for the near-thruster plume of a single thruster. A multi-domain model, which splits the domain into a near-cathode region and a near-plume region, is used to obtain velocity distribution of the neutralizing electrons. This simulation is compared with one that assumes a pre-neutralized beam and another that uses a floating cathode potential.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 31, 2005
Accession Number
ADA441428

Entities

People

  • Douglas Van Gilder
  • Joseph Wang
  • Lubos Brieda

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Cell Size
  • Charge Density
  • Dynamics
  • Electric Fields
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Engineering
  • Engines
  • Equations
  • Geometry
  • Ion Beams
  • Ion Thrusters
  • Ions
  • Simulations
  • Thrusters

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster