High frequency electromagnetic resistive instability in a Hall thruster under the effect of ionization

Abstract

Two types of high frequency electromagnetic resistive instabilities are found to occur in a Hall thruster plasma in the presence of collisions and ionization, out of which one of lower growth rate (called lower magnitude high frequency instability (LMHFI)) is sensitive to the axial component of the wave vector. The effects of ionization, collisions, and electron drift velocity on the growth rates of these instabilities are studied in greater details. The LMHFI grows faster in the presence of ionization but shows weaker dependence on the electrons' E→×B→ drift, contrary to the case of other instability (called higher magnitude high frequency instability) which is sensitive to the azimuthal wave number and collisions.