Simulation of RF Microdischarges for Microthruster Applications

Author

Sitaraman, H. ; Raja, L.L.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Aerosp. Eng. & Eng. Mech., Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

Volume

39

Issue

11

fYear

2011

Firstpage

2930

Lastpage

2931

Abstract

A discharge phenomenon in a radio-frequency (RF)-excited microdischarge-based microthruster with dielectric-covered electrodes is presented. A self-consistent multispecies multitemperature continuum model is used to describe the plasma in the thruster, along with the compressible Navier-Stokes equations for the bulk fluid flow. Results indicate a highly pulsed microdischarge with charge densities of ~10²⁰ m^-3 and gas temperature excursions of ~200 K occurring in the discharge during the pulse. The results validate the RF-excited microdischarge concept for electrothermal microthruster applications.

Keywords

Navier-Stokes equations; electrodes; high-frequency discharges; plasma applications; plasma density; plasma flow; plasma simulation; plasma sources; plasma temperature; RF microdischarge based microthruster; RF microdischarge simulation; bulk fluid flow; charge density; compressible Navier-Stokes equations; dielectric covered electrodes; gas temperature excursions; highly pulsed microdischarge; microthruster applications; radiofrequency excited microdischarge; self consistent multispecies multitemperature continuum model; Computational modeling; Discharges; Heating; Mathematical model; Plasma temperature; Radio frequency; Capacitively coupled plasma; dielectric barrier discharges; electric propulsion; microdischarge; microthrusters; non-equilibrium glow discharge; plasma fluid model;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPS.2011.2158451

Filename

5957332