Time-dependent expansion of a weakly-collisional plasma beam in a paraxial magnetic nozzle

Zhou, Jiewei; Sánchez‐Arriaga, G.; Ahedo, Eduardo

doi:10.1088/1361-6595/abeff3

Cited by 14 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Instead in Cases N it is found that q re h re , approximately. For Cases I and A (and leaving aside the central region where both q re and h re cross zero) a similar behavior is observed: now the ratio q re /h re is larger but, because of the large asymmetry, simulations of a plasma expanding in a paraxial magnetic nozzle [16,17].…”

Section: Gyroviscous Energy Flux and Heat Fluxsupporting

confidence: 54%

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Macroscopic plasma analysis from 1D-radial kinetic results of a Hall thruster discharge

Marín-Cebrián

Domínguez-Vázquez

Fajardo

et al. 2021

Plasma Sources Sci. Technol.

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A radial particle-in-cell model of the weakly-collisional plasma discharge in a Hall thruster, provides the non-Maxwellian velocity distribution functions (VDF) of ions and electrons. The model considers a radial magnetic field, secondary electron emission from the two walls, and phenomenological models of anomalous electron scattering. The electron VDF is used to assess the different terms in the macroscopic momentum and energy equations, identifying those differing from the standard fluid model for a near-Maxwellian VDF. The pressure tensor consists of an anisotropic gyrotropic part and a small gyroviscous part. Nonetheless, the gradient of this last one affects the cross-field electron current density, generating radial undulations that resemble those reported for near-wall conductivity. A gyroviscous energy flux is identified too. The heat flux parallel to the magnetic lines does not follow a conductive-type law but a convective-type one, already found in other weakly-collisional plasmas. The tails of the electron velocity distribution function are partially depleted due to wall collection, leading to reduced electron fluxes of particles and energy, which are characterized with parameters useful for fluid models. Differences in the plasma response for annular and planar channel geometries are highlighted. The levels of replenishment of the electron VDF and of the asymmetries in radial profiles differ for isotropic and anisotropic anomalous scattering models.

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Section: Gyroviscous Energy Flux and Heat Fluxsupporting

confidence: 54%

“…But the main focus of uncertainty here is a reliable model of the heat flux for the weakly-collisional electrons, in order to close the fluid set of equations. There is an ample evidence in the literature, in areas such as plasma-laser interactions [13,14], tokamak divertors [15], and magnetic nozzles [16,17],…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macroscopic plasma analysis from 1D-radial kinetic results of a Hall thruster discharge

Marín-Cebrián

Domínguez-Vázquez

Fajardo

et al. 2021

Plasma Sources Sci. Technol.

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“…Except for simplified configurations (e.g. one-dimensional models; Zhou, Sánchez-Arriaga & Ahedo 2021), the computational costs of these models can be high (Van Dijk et al. 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulation of the plume of a magnetically enhanced plasma thruster with SPIS

et al. 2021

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A three-dimensional fully kinetic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation strategy has been implemented to simulate the acceleration stage of a magnetically enhanced plasma thruster (MEPT). The study has been performed with the open-source code Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software (SPIS). The tool has been copiously modified to simulate properly the dynamics of a magnetized plasma plume. A cross-validation of the methodology has been done with Starfish, a two-dimensional open-source PIC software. Two configurations have been compared: (i) in the absence of a magnetic field and (ii) in the presence of a magnetic field generated by a coil with maximum intensity of 300 G at the thruster outlet. The results show a reduction of the plume divergence angle, an increase of ion speed and an increase of the specific impulse in the presence of the magnetic nozzle. The simulations presented in this study are representative of the operative conditions of a 50 W MEPT. Nonetheless, the methodology adopted can be extended to handle the magnetized plasma plume of several other types of thrusters such as electron cyclotron resonance and applied field magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters.

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“…The paraxial model describes the dynamics of magnetized electrons (and ions) along the nozzle axis. The study has been developed along several works [62][63][64][65], which have addressed the problem under different perspectives (steady-state versus timedependent models, collisionless versus partially-collisional ones, convergent-divergent MNs versus divergent-only ones, integral versus differential formulations).…”

Section: D-axial Kinetic Model Of a Paraxial Plumementioning

confidence: 99%

Using electron fluid models to analyze plasma thruster discharges

Ahedo

2023

J Electr Propuls

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Fluid models of the slow-dynamics of magnetized, weakly-collisional electrons lead to build computationally-affordable, long-time simulations of plasma discharges in Hall-effect and electrodeless plasma thrusters. This paper discusses the main assumptions and techniques used in 1D to 3D electron fluid models, and some examples illustrate their capabilities. Critical aspects of these fluid models are the expressions for the pressure tensor, the heat flux vector, the plasma-wall fluxes, and the high-frequency-averaged electron transport and heating caused by plasma waves, generated either by turbulence or external irradiation. The different orders of magnitude of the three scalar momentum equations characterize the electron anisotropic transport. Central points of the discussion are: the role of electron inertia, magnetically-aligned meshes versus Cartesian-type ones, the use of a thermalized potential and the infinite mobility limit, the existence of convective-type heat fluxes, and the modeling of the Debye sheath, and wall fluxes. Plasma plume models present their own peculiarities, related to anomalous parallel cooling and heat flux closures, the matching of finite plume domains with quiescent infinity, and solving fully collisionless expansions. Solutions of two 1D electron kinetic models are used to derive kinetically-consistent fluid models and compare them with more conventional ones.

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Time-dependent expansion of a weakly-collisional plasma beam in a paraxial magnetic nozzle

Cited by 14 publications

References 40 publications

Macroscopic plasma analysis from 1D-radial kinetic results of a Hall thruster discharge

Macroscopic plasma analysis from 1D-radial kinetic results of a Hall thruster discharge

Simulation of the plume of a magnetically enhanced plasma thruster with SPIS

Using electron fluid models to analyze plasma thruster discharges

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