Three-dimensional plasma particle-in-cell calculations of ion thruster backflow contamination
A fully three-dimensional hybrid plasma particle-in-cell model for multi-computer environments was developed to assess the space-craft backflow contamination of an ion thruster. Results of plume backflow are presented for a 13-cm xenon ion thruster operating with a current level of 0.4 A on a model spacecraft. Three-dimensional results are compared with the results of a two-dimensional axisymmetric model to explore the three-dimensionality of the backstreaming flow field.
scientific article; zbMATH DE number 947664