Quasi-one-dimensional simulations of magnetic nozzles for plasma thruster applications

Author

Ebersohn, Frans H. ; Sheehan, J.P. ; Longmier, Benjamin W. ; Shebalin, John V.

Author_Institution

Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

fYear

2014

fDate

25-29 May 2014

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

1

Abstract

Novel quasi-one-dimensional, electrostatic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of magnetic nozzles were performed to study the energy exchange, particle acceleration, and instabilities in a magnetic nozzle. Field-particle and particle-particle energy exchange were both studied to fully characterize energy exchange in the magnetic nozzle. The effects of instabilities on the thermal behavior of the plasma were also investigated. Research results and design implications will be discussed.

Keywords

nozzles; plasma accelerators; plasma instability; plasma magnetohydrodynamics; plasma simulation; plasma thermodynamics; PIC; electrostatic particle-in-cell simulations; field-particle energy exchange; magnetic nozzles; particle acceleration; particle-particle energy exchange; plasma instabilities; plasma thermal behavior; plasma thruster applications; quasi-one-dimensional simulations; Educational institutions; Electrostatics; Energy exchange; Linear particle accelerator; Magnetic fields; NASA; Plasmas;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Plasma Sciences (ICOPS) held with 2014 IEEE International Conference on High-Power Particle Beams (BEAMS), 2014 IEEE 41st International Conference on

Conference_Location

Washington, DC

Print_ISBN

978-1-4799-2711-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PLASMA.2014.7012586

Filename

7012586