Comparison between particle simulation and measurements of a stationary plasma thruster plume

Abstract

This article is attempted to study the plume characteristics of a stationary plasma thruster (SPT). First, electron density, electron temperature, and current density of a SPT plume in a chamber are measured experimentally by a double Langmuir probe. Then, a numerical model based on particle-in-cell and direct simulation Monte Carlo hybrid method is employed to simulate the flow field. The simulation is verified by comparing the computational results and the experimental data. The research indicates that the electron temperature of the flow field is ∼ 2 eV and the electron number density is ∼2.5×1016−5×1015m−3at the centre-line and at a distance of 0.3—1.0 m downstream of the thruster exit. The divergence angle of the researched SPT plume is ∼30° and the influence of backpressure is observable at the wings of the flow field.