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Experimental study of the effect of propellant asymmetrical distribution on anode current in a Hall effect thruster

This paper experimentally evaluated the effect of the disruption of the symmetrical distribution of the propellant on the characteristics of the anode current. The change in the asymmetry degree of the propellant distribution is achieved by supplying gas with a dual-cavity gas distributor. The resul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics letters. A 2019-09, Vol.383 (25), p.3108-3113
Main Authors: Ding, Minghao, Li, Hong, Ding, Yongjie, Liu, Hui, Yu, Daren, Wang, Xiaogang
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:This paper experimentally evaluated the effect of the disruption of the symmetrical distribution of the propellant on the characteristics of the anode current. The change in the asymmetry degree of the propellant distribution is achieved by supplying gas with a dual-cavity gas distributor. The results show that as the asymmetry degree increases, the magnitude of the anode current changes monotonically from a slow growth to a rapid growth, while the peak-to-peak value of the anode current exhibits a non-monotonic behavior. A preliminary analysis shows that the asymmetrical distribution of the propellant causes a nonuniform plasma generation along the azimuthal direction and consequently the appearance of an azimuthal electric field. The effect of the azimuthal electric field on the electron azimuthal drift as well as the induction of the electron axial drift are key factors that account for the change of the anode current and its oscillation. •Transition in discharge current occurs as propellant asymmetry degree increases.•Transition point drops down as propellant flow rate or discharge voltage increases.•Azimuthal electric field induced by asymmetrical discharge accounts for transition.
ISSN:0375-9601
1873-2429
DOI:10.1016/j.physleta.2019.07.008