Monte Carlo simulation of ion-neutral charge exchange collisions and grid erosion in an ion thrusterA combined particle-in-cell (PIC)/Monte Carlo simulation model has been developed in which the PIC method is used to simulate the charge exchange collisions. It is noted that a number of features were reproduced correctly by this code, but that its assumption of two-dimensional axisymmetry for a single set of grid apertures precluded the reproduction of the most characteristic feature of actual test data; namely, the concentrated grid erosion at the geometric center of the hexagonal aperture array. The first results of a three-dimensional code, which takes into account the hexagonal symmetry of the grid, are presented. It is shown that, with this code, the experimentally observed erosion patterns are reproduced correctly, demonstrating explicitly the concentration of sputtering between apertures.
Document ID
19910036931
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Peng, Xiaohang (Tennessee Univ. Space Inst. Tullahoma, TN, United States)
Ruyten, Wilhelmus M. (Tennessee Univ. Space Inst. Tullahoma, TN, United States)
Keefer, Dennis (Tennessee, University; Calspan Center for Advanced Space Propulsion, Tullahoma, United States)