One dimensional numerical analysis of plasma properties in the discharge channel of a Hall effect thruster

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Fizik Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2014

Öğrenci: ÇINAR YÜNCÜLER

Eş Danışman: İSMAİL RAFATOV, HÜSEYİN NAFİZ ALEMDAROĞLU

Özet:

The aim of this study is to understand and simulate the physical processes occurring in the discharge channel of a Hall effect thruster. Accordingly, based on a physical model proposed by A. I. Morozov, one-dimensional fluid and hybrid numerical codes are developed on Matlab software and applied to the analysis of axial distributions of plasma properties in the discharge channel of the thruster. In the hybrid model, ions are described by the kinetic Vlasov equation, while electrons and neutral atoms are treated as fluids. Initially, stationary profiles of the plasma properties are obtained. Then solving time dependent equations, time evolution of these properties is investigated. In different operating regimes, damped, periodic, and aperiodic irregular oscillations of the plasma properties are observed and discussed. The performance parameters of the thruster such as thrust, efficiency and specific impulse are estimated for different input conditions. The results obtained from fluid and hybrid models are compared.