Similar to a single stage Hall thruster, the magnetic field, which controls electron trajectory and electric field distribution, is the most important factor determining the performance of a double stage Hall thruster. Especially, a potential well, which is helpful to reduce the ion loss on the thruster walls, is shaped in the ionization stage due to the existence of an annular magnetic field topology there. In this paper, the influence of magnetic field strength in the ionization stage on the potential well is researched with both experiments and particle-in-cell simulations. It is found that the depth of potential well increases with the magnetic field strength as a result of enhanced magnetic confinement and lowered electron conductivity. Consequently, the plasma density as well as the ion current entering the acceleration stage increases. However, an excessive magnetic field strength leads to an excess of ion loss on the walls of the acceleration stage. Therefore, there is an appropriate magnetic field strength in the ionization stage that results in a proper potential well and consequently an optimal performance of a double stage Hall thruster.
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July 2012
Research Article|
July 18 2012
Influence of magnetic field strength on potential well in the ionization stage 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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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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Xu Zhang (张旭);
Xu Zhang (张旭)
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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a)
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic mail: [email protected].
Phys. Plasmas 19, 073511 (2012)
Article history
Received:
April 25 2012
Accepted:
June 22 2012
Citation
Daren Yu, Maojiang Song, Hui Liu, Xu Zhang, Hong Li; Influence of magnetic field strength on potential well in the ionization stage of a double stage Hall thruster. Phys. Plasmas 1 July 2012; 19 (7): 073511. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4737174
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