Electron Dynamics After Exit Plane of Stationary Plasma Thruster Discharge Chamber

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the investigation of electron dynamics in the decaying magnetic field B after the stationary plasma thruster exit plane. It is mainly aimed at the investigation of the electron transfer mechanism in this discharge region. A physico-mathematical model of electron motion is presented in the paper, as well as qualitative discussion of effects resulting in their motion across the field B. Some quantitative assessments for parameters are used for comparing research results with test data. It is shown that anomalous electron transfer after the thruster exit plane is stipulated by the interaction of current of their gradient drift with the field B and has Hall nature. Heat energy of electrons is the driving force of the anomalous transfer, and the power-transfer coefficient does not exceed 0.5. Anomalous transfer is unstable and leads to the excitation of drift plasma oscillations of two types at least: highfrequency magnetohydrodynamic oscillations (∼200 MHz) and low-frequency electromagnetic oscillations (∼20 kHz).