Analysis of plasma detachment in the magnetic thrust chamber using full particle-in-cell simulation
| Autor: | Naoji Yamamoto, Tomihiko Kojima, Taichi Morita |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
Physics
Nuclear and High Energy Physics Radiation Gyroradius Nozzle Plasma Mechanics 01 natural sciences 010305 fluids & plasmas Magnetic field symbols.namesake Particle-in-cell simulation Plasma detachment Magnetic nozzle Physics::Plasma Physics 0103 physical sciences Physics::Space Physics symbols Diamagnetism Particle-in-cell Magnetic thrust chamber 010306 general physics Lorentz force Magnetosphere particle motion |
| Zdroj: | High Energy Density Physics. 36(100814) |
| ISSN: | 1574-1818 |
| Popis: | A magnetic nozzle, which is a convergent-divergent magnetic field to control a plasma flow, has been investigated for application to plasma propulsion systems in spaceships. In the magnetic nozzle, plasma thermal energy is converted to one-directional kinetic energy by Lorentz force to generate thrust. Although magnetic field structure and strength are optimized for improvement of the thrust performance, it is essential to understand physical processes of plasma ejection from the nozzle, because the plasma may flow back along lines of magnetic field if the directed plasma continues being strongly magnetized. It is assumed, for one of the scenarios to explain a plasma detachment, that a plasma detaches from magnetic field when a cyclotron radius exceeds a scale length of magnetic field in size. Hence, we investigate a plasma detachment condition by analyzing parameters of the plasma for unmagnetization. We assumed individual particle motion of a fully ionized plasma in the magnetic nozzle and conducted a full particle-in-cell simulation in a two-dimensional coordinate system. We calculated a ratio of cyclotron radius to a scale length of the magnetic field. The ratio increased in a downstream due to variation of magnetic field induced from a diamagnetic cavity, suggesting unmagnetization. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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