Simulation of the microwave propagation through the plume of a Hall thruster integrated on small spacecraft

• Published in: Journal of applied physics 2022-06, Vol.131 (24)
• Main Authors: de Mejanes, N., Pascaud, R., Mazières, V., Rossi, A., Laquerbe, V., Garrigues, L., Pascal, O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antenna radiation patterns; Applied physics; Cubesat; Dipole antennas; Electromagnetic interactions; Electromagnetism; Engineering Sciences; Far fields; Perturbation; Plasmas; Propagation; Simulation; Spacecraft; Subsystems
• ISSN: 0021-8979; 1089-7550
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0095134

More and more CubeSats are being launched. On these small platforms, subsystems such as propulsion and communication ones have to coexist. This article focuses on electromagnetic interaction between these two critical subsystems. Hence, a numerical multi-physics method is proposed in order to quantify perturbation caused by an electric thruster’s plume on the antenna of a CubeSat type spacecraft. A plume simulation model has been coupled with electromagnetic simulation software. As an example, the farfield radiation patterns and radioelectric characteristics of a 436 MHz dipole are presented when located near a Hall thruster’s plume on a 6U type platform. Changes in radiation patterns are observed in the presence of plume for the dipole antenna. This versatile method makes it possible to represent microwave propagation through a plume for various antennas, thruster’s plumes, or relative positions.