RT Journal Article
T1 Hybrid 3D model for the interaction of plasma thruster plumes with nearby objects
A1 Cichocki, Filippo
A1 Domínguez Vázquez, Adrián
A1 Merino Martínez, Mario
A1 Ahedo Galilea, Eduardo Antonio
AB This paper presents a hybrid particle-in-cell (PIC) fluid approach to model the interaction of a plasma plume with a spacecraft and/or any nearby object. Ions and neutrals are modeled with a PIC approach, while electrons are treated as a fluid. After a first iteration of the code, the domain is split into quasineutral and non-neutral regions, based on non-neutrality criteria, such as the relative charge density and the Debye length-to-cell size ratio. At the material boundaries of the former quasineutral region, a dedicated algorithm ensures that the Bohm condition is met. In the latter non-neutral regions, the electron density and electric potential are obtained by solving the coupled electron momentum balance and Poisson equations. Boundary conditions for both the electric current and potential are finally obtained with a plasma sheath sub-code and an equivalent circuit model. The hybrid code is validated by applying it to a typical plasma plume-spacecraft interaction scenario, and the physics and capabilities of the model are finally discussed.
PB IOP Publishing Ltd.
SN 0963-0252
SN 1361-6595 (online)
YR 2017
FD 2017-11-29
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10016/29599
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10016/29599
LA eng
NO The research leading to the results of this paper was initiated within the LEOSWEEPproject (“Improving Low Earth Orbit Security With Enhanced Electric Propulsion”), fundedby the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grantagreement N.607457. Additional funding to complete it has been received by Spain’s R&DNational Plan, under grant ESP2016-75887.
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RD 27 jul. 2024