Electrospray simulation in a colloid thruster using particle-in-cell (PIC) approach

Rakesh Kumar, Arnaud Bauner, Zheng Li, Deborah A. Levin

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

In the present work, a Particle in Cell (PIC) code is developed to simulate a plasma without the consideration of particle collisions. The PIC solver is based on the Poisson equation since there is no applied magnetic field and the induced magnetic field is considered to be negligible. The Poisson equation is discretized by the finite difference method and solved by the Successive Over Relaxation (SOR) iterative technique. The PIC solver is used to carry out an electrospray simulation of a colloid thruster. Velocity distributions, thrust and specific implulse are computed for the electrospray. Furthermore, contamination of spacecraft surfaces due to ionic particle impingement is discussed. It is found that the lateral dispersion of the beam is negligible due to space charge effects and the beam remains fairly collimated. Thus no significant contamination would occur if particle collisions between ionic or ionic and neutral collisions are not considered. Particle collisions will be considered in our future work for an accurate quantification of contamination, erosion and spacecraft charging.

Original languageEnglish (US)
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes
Event50th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition - Nashville, TN, United States
Duration: Jan 9 2012Jan 12 2012

Other

Other50th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNashville, TN
Period1/9/121/12/12

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aerospace Engineering

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