Hybrid PIC-DSMC simulation of a Hall thruster plume on unstructured grids

摘要

AQUILA, a hybrid PIC-DSMC Hall thruster plume simulation on unstructured grids, has been developed to work within the Air Force's COLISEUM framework. The importance of the effect of a background neutral density is investigated in terms of charge exchange wing formation, non-neutral regions of the plume, and foreign material emitted by the thruster reaching behind a shadow shield. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.