One-dimensional fluid and hybrid numerical analysis of the plasma properties in the discharge channel of a Hall thruster

Abstract

One-dimensional fluid and hybrid fluid–kinetic numerical codes are developed and applied to the analysisof axial distributions of plasma properties in the discharge channel of a Hall-effect thruster. Within the hybrid modelions are described by the kinetic Vlasov equation, while electrons and neutral atoms are treated as fluids. The resultsobtained from fluid and hybrid models are compared. Different operating regimes such as damped, periodic, and aperiodicirregular oscillations about the stationary state are observed and discussed. Thrust and efficiency of the thruster fordifferent input parameters are estimated.