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Cited by 67Plasma Diagnostics and ApplicationsVacuum and Plasma ArcsDust and Plasma Wave Phenomena

Hybrid 3D model for the interaction of plasma thruster plumes with nearby objects

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Cichocki, Filippo, Domínguez-Vázquez, Adrián, Merino, Mario, Ahedo, Eduardo·2017·Plasma Sources Science and Technology
DOI 10.1088/1361-6595/aa986e
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Abstract

This paper presents a hybrid particle-in-cell (PIC) fluid approach to model the interaction of a plasma plume with a spacecraft and/or any nearby object. Ions and neutrals are modeled with a PIC approach, while electrons are treated as a fluid. After a first iteration of the code, the domain is split into quasineutral and non-neutral regions, based on non-neutrality criteria, such as the relative charge density and the Debye length-to-cell size ratio. At the material boundaries of the former quasineutral region, a dedicated algorithm ensures that the Bohm condition is met. In the latter non-neutral regions, the electron density and electric potential are obtained by solving the coupled electron momentum balance and Poisson equations. Boundary conditions for both the electric current and potential are finally obtained with a plasma sheath sub-code and an equivalent circuit model. The hybrid code is validated by applying it to a typical plasma plume–spacecraft interaction scenario, and the physics and capabilities of the model are finally discussed.

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  • The particle representation allows simple and intuitive implementation for detailed description of plasma-gas and plasma-wall interactions, but suffers from discrete particle noise and computational intensity.

    “Among the different kinetic approaches 31 available, the particle representation allows a simple and intuitive implementation to account for a detailed description of plasma-gas and plasma-wall interactions, although it suffers from the inevitable but controllable limitation due to inherent discrete particle noise 32-35 and from its computationally intensive nature.”

    From Plasma propulsion modeling with particle-based algorithms (2023) · cites this paper as [33]

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Authors
Cichocki, F., Domínguez-Vázquez, A., Merino, M., & Ahedo, E.
Affiliations
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (ES)
Corresponding author
Cichocki, Filippo
ORCID
Venue
Plasma Sources Science and Technology
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Published
2017-11-29
Volume
26
Issue
12
Pages
125008
ISSN
  • 0963-0252 (ISSN-L)
  • 1361-6595
DOI
10.1088/1361-6595/aa986e
OpenAlex
W2767588358
Cited by
67
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 6
FWCI
2.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Plasma Sources Science and Technology (publishedVersion)
  • LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • e-Archivo (Carlos III University of Madrid) (submittedVersion)
Funders
European Commission (2007–2013, FP7 2007-2013, 607457, FP7/2007)
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
plasma-surface interaction, non-neutral plasma, plasma sheath, Poisson equation, equivalent circuit model, spacecraft charging, Debye length

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