Electron Motion in a Stationary Plasma Thruster
- Authors: Skovoroda A.A.1,2, Sorokina E.A.1,2, Podturova O.I.1,2
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Affiliations:
- National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”
- People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)
- Issue: Vol 45, No 10 (2019)
- Pages: 941-951
- Section: Ion and Plasma Sources
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/1063-780X/article/view/187222
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063780X19100064
- ID: 187222
Cite item
Abstract
Electron motion in a classical three-block model of the stationary plasma thruster (SPT) invented by A.I. Morozov is analyzed. It is demonstrated that the motion of electrons produced with a zero initial velocity due to working gas ionization critically depends on the position of the starting point along the accelerating channel axis. While the electron trajectories in the cathode region are regular, they become ergodic closer to the anode, which is accompanied by enhanced particle transport along the thruster channel. This transition is associated with the presence of a boundary at which erosion of the discharge chamber wall takes place in the experiment. The discovered ergodization of electron trajectories can be responsible for the anomalous electron conductivity in the near-anode region of the SPT.
About the authors
A. A. Skovoroda
National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”; People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)
Author for correspondence.
Email: Skovoroda_AA@nrcki.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow, 123182; Moscow, 117198
E. A. Sorokina
National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”; People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)
Author for correspondence.
Email: sorokina.ekaterina@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow, 123182; Moscow, 117198
O. I. Podturova
National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”; People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)
Email: sorokina.ekaterina@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow, 123182; Moscow, 117198