Impact of low-frequency oscillations on ion energy in a high-power magnetically shielded Hall thruster

Plasma oscillations below 100 kHz in a high-power, magnetically shielded Hall-effect thruster are characterized experimentally. A time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence diagnostic was used to measure the evolution of the axial ion velocity distribution along the discharge channel centerline. A met...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied physics 2022-01, Vol.131 (3)
Main Authors: Roberts, Parker J., Chaplin, Vernon H., Lopez Ortega, Alejandro, Mikellides, Ioannis G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acceleration
Applied physics
Discharge
Hall effect
Ion dynamics
Ion motion
Ion temperature
Ion velocity
Laser induced fluorescence
Plasma oscillations
Spatial resolution
Time dependence
Velocity distribution
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Summary:Plasma oscillations below 100 kHz in a high-power, magnetically shielded Hall-effect thruster are characterized experimentally. A time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence diagnostic was used to measure the evolution of the axial ion velocity distribution along the discharge channel centerline. A method was developed to correct for artificial broadening of the distribution due to finite spatial resolution, enabling accurate ion temperature measurements in the acceleration region. Time-dependent ion heating behavior is revealed, which varies with axial location. Electrostatic, collisionless particle-pushing calculations were employed to simulate the effects of a shifting acceleration front on ion motion. It is found that ions exchange energy with these oscillations, which accounts for a portion of the ion velocity fluctuations observed in the thruster plume. Phasing relationships between ion dynamics and discharge current oscillations are discussed in the context of prior Hall thruster experiments.
ISSN:0021-8979
1089-7550
DOI:10.1063/5.0067325