Title :
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
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;
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
DOI :
10.1109/PLASMA.2014.7012586
