Influence of Electron Sources on the Near-field Plume in a Multistage Plasma Thruster

Authors

  • J. Duras Institute of Physics, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, D-17498 Greifswald Department of Applied Mathematics, Physics and Humanities, Nürnberger Institute of Technology, D-90489 Nürnberg
  • R. Schneider Institute of Physics, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, D-17498 Greifswald
  • O. Kalentev Biomedizinische NMR Forschungs GmbH am Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, D-37077 Göttingen
  • S. Kemnitz Computing Center, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, D-17498 Greifswald University Rostock, Institute of Informatics, D-18059 Rostock
  • K. Matyash Computing Center, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, D-17498 Greifswald
  • N. Koch Department of Applied Mathematics, Physics and Humanities, Nürnberger Institute of Technology, D-90489 Nürnberg
  • K. Lüskow Institute of Physics, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, D-17498 Greifswald
  • D. Kahnfeld Institute of Physics, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, D-17498 Greifswald
  • G. Bandelow Institute of Physics, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, D-17498 Greifswald

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14311/ppt.2016.3.126

Keywords:

multistage plasma thruster, near-field plume, external electron source, particle-in-cell

Abstract

n order to obtain a better understanding of the near-field plume of a multistage plasma thruster, the influence of an external electron source is investigated by Particle-In-Cell simulations. The variation of the source position showed a strong influence of the magnetic field configuration on the electron distribution and therefore on the plume plasma. In the second part of this work, higher energetic electrons were injected in order to model collision-induced diffusion in the plume. This broadens the electron distribution, which leads to a more pronounced divergence angle in the angular ion distribution.

References

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Published

2016-02-14

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 3 (2016)

Section

Articles

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