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Cited by 17Plasma Diagnostics and ApplicationsVacuum and Plasma ArcsDust and Plasma Wave Phenomena

Two-dimensional effects on electrostatic instabilities in Hall thrusters. I. Insights from particle-in-cell simulations and two-point power spectral density reconstruction techniques

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Petronio, Federico, Charoy, Thomas, Alvarez Laguna, Alejandro, Bourdon, Anne, Chabert, Pascal·2023·Physics of Plasmas
DOI 10.1063/5.0119253
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Abstract

Using 2D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations coupled to a fluid description of the gas dynamics, we study the electrostatic instabilities developing in the axial–azimuthal plane of a Hall thruster, during several periods of a low-frequency oscillation (the so-called breathing mode at 10 kHz). As done in experiments, the 2D PIC-MCC (Monte Carlo collision) code is coupled to an electrical circuit in order to partially damp the (otherwise large) discharge current fluctuations at the breathing mode frequency. The different electrostatic higher frequency modes that develop in the plasma are analyzed using a two-point power spectral density reconstruction method, which allows us to generate the dispersion diagrams (in the frequency-wavenumber space) along the axial and azimuthal directions and at different times during the low-frequency breathing mode oscillations. This technique allows us to distinguish between different well-identified instabilities: the electron cyclotron drift instability and its evolution toward an ion acoustic wave and the ion transit time instability. These instabilities are usually considered unidirectional (either axial or azimuthal); however, it is shown here that they exist in both directions. This two-dimensional character is instrumental in understanding where these instabilities grow and how they propagate in the thruster channel and plume. A theoretical discussion of this aspect is proposed in Paper II. The effects of (i) the azimuthal length of the simulation box and (ii) the electron temperature injection at the cathode are also discussed.

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  • Therefore, such discharges are often modeled by two-fluid or hybrid descriptions.

    “Therefore, such discharges are often modeled either by the two-fluid 109-112 or by hybrid 21,27 (fluid for electrons and particle for ions, see Sec. IV A) descriptions.”

    From Plasma propulsion modeling with particle-based algorithms (2023) · cites this paper as [109]

    The Introduction and Section II describe this paper’s PIC simulation of charged particles coupled to a fluid model for neutral gas. They do not address whether such discharges are often modeled with two-fluid descriptions or with the specified hybrid approach of fluid electrons and particle ions (searched: two-fluid, hybrid, fluid electrons/particle ions). (LLM, conf=0.72)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Petronio, F., Charoy, T., Alvarez Laguna, A., Bourdon, A., & Chabert, P.
Affiliations
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (LPP), CNRS, Sorbonne Université, École Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris 1 , 91120 Palaiseau, France
Corresponding author
Petronio, Federico
ORCID
Venue
Physics of Plasmas
Publisher
AIP Publishing
Published
2023-01-01
Volume
30
Issue
1
Pages
012103
ISSN
  • 1070-664X (ISSN-L)
  • 1089-7674
DOI
10.1063/5.0119253
OpenAlex
W4313895027
Cited by
17
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7
FWCI
1.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
other-oa
Locations
  • Physics of Plasmas (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Grand Équipement National De Calcul Intensif (A0100510439 - A0120510439)
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-16-CHIN-003-01)
  • Safran Aircraft Engines (Chaire POSEIDON)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Plasma Diagnostics and Applications
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Vacuum and Plasma Arcs
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Dust and Plasma Wave Phenomena
Keywords
Hall thruster, electrostatic instability, breathing mode, two-dimensional instability, electron cyclotron drift instability, ion acoustic waves, dispersion diagram, Monte Carlo collisions

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