A collisionless plasma thruster plume expansion model

作者：Merino Mario^*; Cichocki Filippo; Ahedo Eduardo

来源：Plasma Sources Science and Technology, 2015, 24(3): 035006.

DOI：10.1088/0963-0252/24/3/035006

• plasma plumes
• self-similar models
• cold plasma
• plasma expansion
• fluid models

A two-fluid model of the unmagnetized, collisionless far region expansion of the plasma plume for gridded ion thrusters and Hall effect thrusters is presented. The model is integrated into two semi-analytical solutions valid in the hypersonic case. These solutions are discussed and compared against the results from the (exact) method of characteristics; the relative errors in density and velocity increase slowly axially and radially and are of the order of 10-2-10-3 in the cases studied. The plasma density, ion flux and ambipolar electric field are investigated. A sensitivity analysis of the problem parameters and initial conditions is carried out in order to characterize the far plume divergence angle in the range of interest for space electric propulsion. A qualitative discussion of the physics of the secondary plasma plume is also provided.

• 出版日期2015-5