Comparison of Hall Thruster Plume Expansion Model with Experimental Data (Preprint)
Abstract
Numerical modeling of the expansion of electric thruster plumes provides direct means for predicting spacecraft surface contamination and erosion due to plume ions. A software package named COLISEUM that is capable of self-consistently modeling plasma propagation and interactions with arbitrary 3-D surfaces is being developed by a national team of researchers. Despite much research and development in modeling plume expansion, it is necessary to continuously validate these codes using laboratory based experimental data. It is well-established that vacuum chamber facilities affect the plume of these devices. Thus, the models must not only describe the plume expansion, but also effects of the vacuum chamber. COLISEUM has been designed to simulate both vacuum chamber configurations and spacecraft geometries. This work provides source derivation from laser induced florescence (LIF) data. Included is a study that compares results from a hybrid particle-in-cell model (AQUILA) with Monte Carlo collisions to data obtained from the plume of Busek 600W Hall thruster (BHT-HD-600). This data includes current density, velocity distribution, and energy data.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA454665
Entities
People
- Carrie S. Niemela
- Jared Ekholm
- Lubos Brieda
- Michael Nakles
- Shannon Y. Cheng
- William Hargus Jr.
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory