Related papers: Research on mode transition of micro-newton-level …
A compact helicon plasma thruster that features a cusp in its internal magnetic field is analyzed with experiments and simulations. A compensated Langmuir probe and a Faraday cup are used in the former, while a hybrid PIC/fluid transport…
The electron dynamics and the mechanisms of power absorption in radio-frequency (RF) driven, magnetically enhanced capacitively coupled plasmas (MECCPs) at low pressure are investigated. The device in focus is a geometrically asymmetric…
A two-dimensional fluid model is used to investigate the electron heating dynamics and the production of neutral species in a capacitively coupled radio-frequency micro atmospheric pressure helium plasma jet -- specifically the COST jet --…
A method of determining boundary conditions for quasi 1-D modeling of steady-state operation of a Hall Thruster with ceramic channel is presented. For a given mass flow rate and magnetic field profile the imposed condition of a smooth sonic…
Low-frequency axial oscillations (5-50 kHz) stand out as a pervasive feature observed in many types of Hall thrusters. While it is widely recognized that the ionization effects play the central role in this mode, as manifested via the large…
We discovered a hysteresis in a microwave-driven low-pressure argon plasma during gas pressure change across the transition region between $\alpha$ and $\gamma$ discharge modes. The hysteresis is manifested in that the critical pressure of…
The topology of the applied magnetic field is an important design aspect of Hall thrusters. For modern Hall thrusters, the field topology most often features curved lines with a concave (negative) curvature upstream of the field peak and a…
In a grid-less Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) plasma thruster with a diverging magnetic nozzle, the magnitude of the ambipolar field accelerating the positive ions depends of the perpendicular energy gained by the electrons. This work…
One special interest for the industrial development of Hall thruster is characterizing the anomalous cross-field electron transport observed after the channel exit. Since the ionization efficiency is more than 90%, the neutral atom density…
The electron cross-field transport by the induced azimuthal electric field in a Hall thruster exhibits the mobility scaled by $1/B$. This study investigates parameters affecting this transport over a Hall thruster's distinct regions, such…
Magnetic nozzles are a key component of electrodeless plasma thrusters, acting as their main acceleration stage. Non-stationary phenomena common to the entire range of $E \times B$ devices, such as oscillations and instabilities, are likely…
Extra Ordinary (X) mode conversion to Bernstein wave near Upper Hybrid Resonance (UHR) layer plays an important role in plasma heating through cyclotron resonance. Wave generation at UHR and parametric decay at high power has been observed…
Electric propulsion is now a sucessfull method for primary propulsion of deep space long duration missions and for geosyncronous satellite attitude control. Closed Drift Plasma Thruster, so called Hall Thruster or SPT (stationary plasma…
This study explores the transitional characteristics of blue-core helicon discharge, which to our knowledge was not particularly focused on before. Parameters are measured on recently built advanced linear plasma device, i.e. Multiple…
Low frequency ionization oscillations involving plasma and neutral density (breathing modes) are the most violent perturbations in Hall thrusters for electric propulsion. Because of its simplicity, the zero-dimensional (0-D) predator-prey…
Today, partially magnetized low-temperature plasmas (LTP) in an ExB configuration, where the applied magnetic field is perpendicular to the self-consistent electric field, have important industrial applications. Hall thrusters, a type of…
Reactor grade plasmas are likely to be fuelled by pellet injection. This technique transiently perturbs the profiles, driving the density profile hollow and flattening the edge temperature profile. After the pellet perturbation, the density…
The low-frequency rotating plasma instability (spoke) in the ISCT200 thruster operating in the wall-less configuration was simulated with a 3 dimensional PIC MCC code. In the simulations an m = 1 spoke rotating with a velocity of 6.5 km/s…
Azimuthal spoke-like modes commonly occur in ExB discharges. The natural occurrence of the spoke mode is correlated with changes of plasma parameters. Here, instead of allowing these changes to occur naturally, we report a technique for…
We report here on initial studies of a pulsed hydromagnetic plasma gun that can operate in either a pre-filled or a gas-puff mode on demand. These modes enable agile and responsive performance through tunable thrust and specific impulse.…