Optimization of a MHD thruster geometry to minimize leakage fields

In order to minimize the leakage fields of a MHD thruster, we study a modular thruster composed of superconducting windings (SC) based on sheets to form “current boxes” or made of massive conductors, around an annular active channel. First, a 2D complex field formulation is used when SC are massive wires. Next, a bi-dimensional and a tri-dimensional electromagnetic modelization of the “current box” problem are developed using a direct method to calculate the field at every point