Hollow Cathode Simulations with a First-Principles Model of Ion-Acoustic Anomalous Resistivity

A mathematical model of the ion–acoustic turbulence that is known to develop in the plume of hollow cathodes is presented. The model takes the form of a partial differential equation for the ion–acoustic wave energy density that can be solved concurrently with a set of the equations of motion that h...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of propulsion and power 2018-07, Vol.34 (4), p.1026-1038
Main Authors: Ortega, Alejandro Lopez, Jorns, Benjamin A, Mikellides, Ioannis G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acoustic waves
Acoustics
Computer simulation
Electrical resistivity
Equations of motion
First principles
Flux density
Hollow cathodes
Mathematical models
Partial differential equations
Turbulence
Wave power
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Summary:A mathematical model of the ion–acoustic turbulence that is known to develop in the plume of hollow cathodes is presented. The model takes the form of a partial differential equation for the ion–acoustic wave energy density that can be solved concurrently with a set of the equations of motion that have been augmented with anomalous terms to account for the ion–acoustic turbulence-driven transport of momentum and heat for electrons and ions. Numerical simulations in two-dimensional axisymmetric geometry that solve the complete system of these equations show significantly better agreement with plasma measurements compared to a previous idealized model, which assumed complete saturation of the ion–acoustic turbulence and did not account for the growth stage of the waves. In particular, the model is able to predict accurately the location and magnitude of the maximum resistivity to the electron current along the cathode centerline.
ISSN:0748-4658
1533-3876
DOI:10.2514/1.B36782