Computer simulation of the jet of rarefied plasma outflowing from a nozzle of a plasma thruster

Abstract

Physical, mathematical and numerical models for the problem of the outflow of a jet of rarefied plasma from the nozzle of a plasma thruster of the cylindrical and rectangular shape have been considered. The main results of computation experiments have been presented: distribution functions of charged particles in the plasma flow, velocity and concentration fields of charged particles, and isolines of the potential of the self-consistent electric field.