Optimization and characterization of zenon ions density in a hall plasma thruster

摘要

A Hall effect plasma thruster was simulated using fully kinetic Particle-in-Cell (PIC) and Monte-Carlo Collision (MCC) methodologies. The numerical model included electrons, neutrals, singly and doubly charged ions. Axis-symmetric R-Z coordinates were used with a non-orthogonal variable mesh to account for important small-scale plasma structures. Electric field and sheath structures were treated self-consistently. Kinetics of all species were treated on the electron time scale. All important collisions were accounted for. The diagnostics include Number density for Xeplus, total density, number density for electrons, Br, Er, Neutral Gas Density for Xe, Kinetic Energy(t), total density (t), Ave KE etc. which agrees with both theoretical and experimental results.