中国物理B ›› 2018, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (4): 45201-045201.doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/27/4/045201

• PHYSICS OF GASES, PLASMAS, AND ELECTRIC DISCHARGES • 上一篇    下一篇

Particle-in-cell simulation for the effect of magnetic cusp on discharge characteristics in a cylindrical Hall thruster

Sheng-Tao Liang(梁圣涛), Hui Liu(刘辉), Da-Ren Yu(于达仁)   

  1. Laboratory of Plasma Propulsion, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
  • 收稿日期:2017-11-16 修回日期:2018-01-02 出版日期:2018-04-05 发布日期:2018-04-05
  • 通讯作者: Hui Liu E-mail:huiliu@hit.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11505041 and 51776047).

Particle-in-cell simulation for the effect of magnetic cusp on discharge characteristics in a cylindrical Hall thruster

Sheng-Tao Liang(梁圣涛), Hui Liu(刘辉), Da-Ren Yu(于达仁)   

  1. Laboratory of Plasma Propulsion, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
  • Received:2017-11-16 Revised:2018-01-02 Online:2018-04-05 Published:2018-04-05
  • Contact: Hui Liu E-mail:huiliu@hit.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11505041 and 51776047).

摘要: The cylindrical Hall thruster has the good prospect of serving as a miniaturized electric propulsion device. A 2D-3V particle-in-cell plus Monte Carlo (PIC-MCC) method is used to study the effect of the magnetic cusp on discharge characteristics of a cylindrical Hall thruster. The simulation results show that the main ionization region and the main potential drop of the thruster are located at the upstream of the discharge channel. When the magnetic cusp moves toward the anode side, the main ionization region is compressed and weakened, moving upstream correspondingly. The ionization near the cusp is enhanced, and the interaction between the plasma and the wall increases. The simulation results suggest that the magnetic cusp should be located near the channel exit.

关键词: cylindrical Hall thruster, PIC-MCC method, magnetic cusp

Abstract: The cylindrical Hall thruster has the good prospect of serving as a miniaturized electric propulsion device. A 2D-3V particle-in-cell plus Monte Carlo (PIC-MCC) method is used to study the effect of the magnetic cusp on discharge characteristics of a cylindrical Hall thruster. The simulation results show that the main ionization region and the main potential drop of the thruster are located at the upstream of the discharge channel. When the magnetic cusp moves toward the anode side, the main ionization region is compressed and weakened, moving upstream correspondingly. The ionization near the cusp is enhanced, and the interaction between the plasma and the wall increases. The simulation results suggest that the magnetic cusp should be located near the channel exit.

Key words: cylindrical Hall thruster, PIC-MCC method, magnetic cusp

中图分类号:  (Monte Carlo methods)

  • 52.65.Pp
52.65.Rr (Particle-in-cell method) 52.75.Di (Ion and plasma propulsion)