It is futile for a double stage Hall thruster to design a special ionization stage if the ionized ions cannot enter the acceleration stage. Based on this viewpoint, the ion transport under different magnetic field strengths in the ionization stage is investigated, and the physical mechanisms affecting the ion transport are analyzed in this paper. With a combined experimental and particle-in-cell simulation study, it is found that the ion transport between two stages is chiefly affected by the potential well, the potential barrier, and the potential drop at the bottom of potential well. With the increase of magnetic field strength in the ionization stage, there is larger plasma density caused by larger potential well. Furthermore, the potential barrier near the intermediate electrode declines first and then rises up while the potential drop at the bottom of potential well rises up first and then declines as the magnetic field strength increases in the ionization stage. Consequently, both the ion current entering the acceleration stage and the total ion current ejected from the thruster rise up first and then decline as the magnetic field strength increases in the ionization stage. Therefore, there is an optimal magnetic field strength in the ionization stage to guide the ion transport between two stages.
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November 2012
Research Article|
November 26 2012
The influence of magnetic field strength in ionization stage on ion transport between two stages of a double stage Hall thruster
Daren Yu (于达仁);
Daren Yu (于达仁)
Lab of Plasma Propulsion, Mail Box 458,
Harbin Institute of Technology
, Harbin 150001, China
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Maojiang Song (宋茂江);
Maojiang Song (宋茂江)
a)
Lab of Plasma Propulsion, Mail Box 458,
Harbin Institute of Technology
, Harbin 150001, China
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Hong Li (李鸿);
Hong Li (李鸿)
Lab of Plasma Propulsion, Mail Box 458,
Harbin Institute of Technology
, Harbin 150001, China
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Hui Liu (刘辉);
Hui Liu (刘辉)
Lab of Plasma Propulsion, Mail Box 458,
Harbin Institute of Technology
, Harbin 150001, China
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Ke Han (韩 轲)
Ke Han (韩 轲)
Lab of Plasma Propulsion, Mail Box 458,
Harbin Institute of Technology
, Harbin 150001, China
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a)
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic mail: [email protected].
Phys. Plasmas 19, 113505 (2012)
Article history
Received:
July 20 2012
Accepted:
October 31 2012
Citation
Daren Yu, Maojiang Song, Hong Li, Hui Liu, Ke Han; The influence of magnetic field strength in ionization stage on ion transport between two stages of a double stage Hall thruster. Phys. Plasmas 1 November 2012; 19 (11): 113505. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4767648
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