Energy Coupling Mechanism of Electrodeless Plasma Thruster with Rotating Electric Field

Abstract

The energy coupling process indicated by particle density, speed, current density, and power absorption in a thruster using a rotating electric field was simulated using a one dimension, three velocities electrostatic particle-in-cell (PIC) code under different external magnetic field strengths varying from 0 to 80 G. The longer interaction between electrons and the sheath layer due to the increased magnetic field results in a significant decrease in electron speed from at 0 G to at 80 G; a reduction in electron power absorption from at 0 G to at 80 G; and an increase in electron density, current density, and total current density about 69.48, 21.11, and 5.4%, respectively. While ions cannot respond to the changes in time because of their large mass. Three types of currents, namely, electron, ion, and displacement, are primarily present throughout the discharge process. Ion current is significantly less than the other two. The characteristics of plasma described exhibit a nonlinear change, dropping at first and then rising when the magnetic field is strengthened. The results have implications for both choosing the magnetic field for the thruster and thoroughly investigating the energy coupling inside the plasma.