16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 1 of 20
16.522, Space Propulsion
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez
Lecture 18: Hall Thruster Efficiency
For a given mass flow m
i
and thrust F, we would like to minimize the running power
P. Define a thruster efficiency
2
F
2m
=
P
??
??
??
η
i
(1)
where
2
F
2m
??
??
??
i
is the minimum required power. The actual power is
aa
P=IV (2)
Where V
a
is the accelerating voltage and I
a
the current through the power supply (or
anode current, or also cathode current). Of the I
a
current of electrons injected by the
cathode, a fraction I
B
goes to neutralize the beam, and the rest, I
BS
back-streams
into the thruster.
Since no net current is lost to the walls,
aBBS
I=I+I (3)
}
V
a
(I
B
)
e
(I
B
)
i
I
BS
I
BS
I
a
(I
B
)
e
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 2 of 20
The thrust is due to the accelerated ions only. These are created at locations along
the thruster which have different potentials V(x), and hence accelerate to different
speeds. Then
iF= cdm
∫
i
(4)
where
i
2eV
c=
m
(5)
Suppose the part idm
i
of im
i
is created in the region where V decreases by dV, and
define an “ionization distribution function” f(V) by
i
aa
i
dm V dV
=-f
VV
m
??
????
??
????
??
????
??
i
i
(6)
or, with
a
V
=
V
?,
()
i
i
dm
=-f d
m
??.
i
i
From the definition, ( )f ? satisfies
()
1
0
fd=1??
∫
(7)
Then, from (4) and (5),
V
V
a
0
x
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 3 of 20
()
1
a
i 0
i
2eV
F=m f d
m
???
∫
i
(8)
and hence the efficiency is
()
2
2 1
a
i 0
aa
i
2eV
m f d
m
=
2mVI
??
??
???
??
??
??
??
η
∫
i
i
(9)
Notice that the beam current I
B
is related to im
i
by
B
i
i
e
I= m
m
i
i
. We can therefore re-
write (9) as
()
2
1
B
a 0
i Im
= f d
I
m
??
????
??
η??
????
??
????
??
∫
i
i
(10)
where each of the factors is less than unity and can be assigned a separate meaning:
(11)
u
im
m
≡η
i
i
is the “utilization factor”, i.e., it penalizes neutral gas flow.
(12)
B
a
a
I
=
I
η , the “backstreaming efficiency” penalizes electron
backstreaming.
(13) ()
2
1
Ε
0
f d =
??
??? η
??
??
∫
, the “nonuniformity factor” is less than unity because of
the nonuniform ion velocity
It is clear that, since ()
1
0
f d=1??
∫
, we want to put most of ( )f ? where ? is
greatest, namely, we want to produce most of the ionization near the inlet. In that
case () ( )f= -1?δ? , and
Ε
=1η . A somewhat pesimistic scenario would be
( )f=1?
,
namely
idm
dx
i
proportional to
dV
-
dx
, i.e., ionization rate proportional to field strength.
In that case
2
2
1
E
0
24
=×1×d==
39
??
??
η??
??
??
??
??
∫
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 4 of 20
Measurements
[1]
tend to indicate
Ε
~ 0.6 - 0.9η , which means that ionization tends to
occur early in the channel. This is to be expected, because that is where the
backstreaming electrons have had the most chance to gain energy by “falling” up the
potential.
The factor
u
im
=
m
η
i
i
is related to the ionization fraction. Putting
ei
im=ncA ,
i
()n
ei nn
im=m+m = nc +nc A
iii
,
e i
nn
u
e i
nn
n c
nc
=
n c
1+
nc
????
????
????
η
????
????
????
(11)
Since
in
cc is large (c
n
~ neutral speed of sound, i.e., a few hundred m/sec, while
isp
c gI 20,000m/sec~null ),
u
η can be high even with
en
nnno more than a few
percent. Data
[1]
show
u
η ranging from 40% to 90%.
The factor
EBa
=I Iη requires some discussion. Most of the ionization is due to the
backstreaming electrons, so that we are not really free to drive
B
I towards
()
aBS a B
II=I-I. What we need to strive for is
(a) Conditions which favor creation of as many ions as possible per backstreaming
electron, and
(b) Minimization of ion-electron losses to the walls, once they are created.
This can be quantified as follows: Let β be the number of secondary electrons (and
of ions) produced per backstreaming electron, and let αbe the fraction of these new
e-ipairs which is lost by recombination on walls. Then, per backstreaming electron,
()1-αβions make it to the beam, and an equal number of cathode electrons are
used to neutralize them. Therefore
()
()
B
a
a
1-
I
==
I1+1-
αβ
η
αβ
(12)
Clearly, we want >>1β and <<1α . The first ( )>>1β implies lengthening the
electron path by means of the applied radial magnetic field, and also using
accelerating potentials which are not too far from 5/2 times the range of energies
where ionization is most efficient (typically 30-80 Volts). This last condition creates
some difficulties with heavy ions, which require higher accelerating potentials for a
given exit speed.
The condition <<1α implies minimization of insulation surfaces on which the
recombination can take place, and arrangement of the electric fields such that ions
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 5 of 20
are not directly accelerated into walls. This is difficult to achieve without detailed
surveys of equipotential surfaces.
Reference:
Komurasaki, K, Hirakowa, M. and Arakawa, Y., IEPC paper 91-078. 22
nd
Electric
Propulsion Conference, Viareggio, Italy, Oct. 1991.
1-D Model of Hall Thruster
Define
eee
=nvΓ
()
ee
v<0, so <0Γ (1)
iei
=nvΓ ()+ or - (2)
nnn
=nvΓ
w
n
i
kT5
vconstant
3m
nullnull (3)
1. Conservation of particles
e in
eion
d dd
==-=n
dx dx dx
Γ ΓΓ
ν (4)
Drift
Zone
SHEATH
(not included)
Sonic
point
Ionization
region
M = -1
T
w
x
Anode Pre-sheath
D
if
fu
s
io
n
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 6 of 20
Where
( )
ion n i e
=nR Tν (5)
i
e
E
-
kTe
e
i0
i
kT
R= c 1+2 e
E
??
σ
??
??
(6)
e
e
i
kT8
c=
mπ
(7)
and, for X
e
,
-20 2
0ii
3.6×10 m , E = eV, V = 12.1Vσ null
-25
i
m = 2.2×10 kg
From (4), two first integrals :
ie d
-= =constantΓΓ Γ (8)
in m
+= =constantΓΓ Γ (9)
Conservation
Equations
and
a
dm
i
I m
=, =
Ae Am
ΓΓ
i
(10)
2. Ion Momentum Equation
The force per unit volume on the ion gas is
e
eEn (from the axial electric field E).
There is also a “pick-up” drag due to ionization. For each ionization event, a new ion
is “incorporated” to the ion population (of velocity
i
v ), jumping from the neutral
velocity
n
v ; this gives a drag ( )
eion i i n
-n m v - vν . We then have
()
i
ii iion i n
dv
mv =eE-m v -v
dx
ν (11)
3. Electron Momentum Equation
Consider first only classical electron collisions (say, with neutrals). The vector
equation of motion of electrons, including electric force, magnetic force and
collisional “drag” (and neglecting inertia) is
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 7 of 20
()
ee
ee ene
P=-en E+v×B-m v?ν
nullnullnullnullnullnullnull
(12)
()
e
en n en
=n cν σ
Project on x, y:
()
e
e x ey e en e ex
dP
=-en E +v B -m nv
dx
ν (13)
e
y
P
E=0, 0
x
???
=
??
?
??
( )
eexeney
0=-en 0-v B -m nvν (14)
From (14),
c
ey ex ex
een en
eB
v= v= v
m
ω
νν
(15)
Substitute in (13):
ec
ex e ex eeneex
en
dP
= -en E - en B v - m n v
dx
ω
ν
ν
2
c
ex eeex en
en
=-enE -mnv +
??ω
ν
??
ν
??
(16)
In the Hall thruster plasma,
en c
<<νω (low collisionality), so second term in
parenthesis is neglected. The quantity
2
c
en
ω
ν
acts then as an “effective collision
frequency”, accounting for the magnetic effect
2
c
e
en
""=
ω
ν
ν
(17)
y
z
B
x
v
ey
v
ex
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 8 of 20
If there were several types of real collisions, such as
1
e-n and
2
e-n , then
12
en en en
=+νννin (17). We write the momentum equation (with
eee
P=nkT) as
()
ee ex eeee
d
nkT =-enE -mnv
dx
ν ( )
eex
vv≡ (18)
e
Γ
In the SPT type of Hall thruster, the dominant scattering affect is actually not
collisions, but the random deflections due to plasma turbulence (“anomalous
diffusion, Bohm diffusion”). To see what modifications this introduces, consider a
simple case with
e
T=constant and
x
E=0. Equation (18) then gives
ee
e
ee
kT dn
=-
mdx
Γ
ν
(19)
So that the diffusivity is
e
ee
kT
D=
m ν
. Using (17), with more than one type of collision,
()
12
e
en en2
ec
kT
D= +
m
νν
ω
(20)
If anomalous (Bohm) diffusion dominates, it is known empirically that
e
Bohm B B
kT 1
D=D
eB 16
??
αα
??
??
nullnull.
If we liken this to collisionality effect, say,
2
en
ν , then
2
ee
Ben2
c
kT kT
=
eB me
αν
ω
, or
2
en B c
=ναω (21)
Therefore, if we want to account for both, classical e-n collisions and Bohm diffusion
effects, we will define
e
""ν as (from (17)
2
c
e
en B c
=
+
ω
ν
ναω
(22)
4. Electron Energy Equation
The convected enthalpy flux of the electron gas is
ee
5
kT
2
Γ . Its divergence is the net
rate of work done on this gas per unit volume, minus the work rate expended in
ionization and excitation of neutrals:
'
ee exeioni
d5
kT = -e E - n E
dx 2
??
ΓΓν
??
??
(23)
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 9 of 20
Where
'
i
E is roughly 2-3 times the actual ionization energy
i
E to include the radiative
losses due to excitation by electron impact, followed by prompt photon emission.
Notice that, since
e
eion
d
n=
dx
Γ
ν this can also be written as
'
eei ex
d5
kT +E = -e E
dx 2
????
ΓΓ
????
????
(24)
5. Solving for Derivatives
We combine here for clarity, the main equations:
e ix
ion e
d dd
==-=
dx dx dx
Γ ΓΓ
ν (25)
()
i
ii x iion i n
dv
mv =eE -mv v -v
dx
(26)
()
ee
ex eee
dnkT
=-enE -m
dx
Γν (27)
'
ee ex eioni
d5
kT = -e E - n E
dx 2
??
ΓΓν
??
??
(28)
It is just a matter of algebra to solve for each of the gradients, separately (including
the potential gradient
x
-E =
x
?φ
?
).
The results are
()
'
2 iei i
eii eeeiion e iiin
e
2E +5kTdv v555
kT - mv = m v v + kT +mv v - v -
3dx3 3 3
? ?
??
νν
? ?
??
??
? ?
(29)
()
'
2
eii eeeeeioniin
e
dn 2E +5kT55
kT - mv = m n v - n m 2v - v -
3dx3 3v
? ?
??
νν
? ?
??
??
? ?
(30)
()
2'
22e ii e i e
eii eeeii iion ein
ie
dT mv -kT 2E +5kT522
kT -mv k =- m v mv -m kT 2v -v -
3dx3 3 3
? ?
??
νν
? ?
??
??
? ?
(31)
()
'2
iei
eii x eeeii iion ein
e
2E +5kTv55 5
kT - mv eE = m v mv +m kT 2v - v -
33 3 3
? ?
??
νν
? ?
??
??
? ?
(32)
Here
e
eex
e
ν = ν =
n
Γ
(generally negative).
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 10 of 20
The most important feature of these equations is the factor
2
eii
5
kT - mv
2
which would
appear in the denominator. It becomes zero when
e
iis
i
kT5
v=v =
3m
(33)
which is the ion-sonic wave speed, an acoustic wave in which both, ions and
electrons, undergo compressions and expansions; they are coupled to each other
electrostatically, and since electrons are hotter, they provide the “restoring force”
e
kT , while the ions, more massive, provide the inertia,
i
m .
Because of this, the gas can accelerate across this speed (of the order of 3000-4000
m/s in Xenon) in one of two modes:
(a) Smoothly, if the right-hand sides of all of Equations (29-32) are zero
when
iis
v=v(actually, if one of them is zero, the others will also be, at
iis
v=v). This imposes an internal condition on the differential equations,
to supplement the boundary conditions. The difficulty is that one does
not know a-priory where (in x) this condition will occur. It is also difficult
to integrate numerical through this point, because each derivative is of
the
0
0
form. One needs to use L’ Hospital’s rule to extract the finite ratio
(two values normally).
(b) Abruptly, if the right-hand sides are nonzero when
ι is
v=v. In this case,
the derivatives (including E
x
) are locally infinite, although one can show
that they behave as
s
1 x-x, and so this infinity is integrable. This
can only happen at the open end of the channel, just as with a normal
open gas pipe discharging into a vacuum. In this case, we impose the
end condition ( )
iise
v=v T .
Notice that condition (b) can also occur at the inlet (x=0). Infact , it does occur. This
is because the anode will develop a negative sheath (electron repelling) in order to
restrict the electron capture to the required
a
I level. This same sheath will then
attract ions, which will therefore enter it at their sonic velocity (a form of Bohm’s
sheath-edge criterion):
()
()
e
i
i
kT 0
3
vx=0=-
5m
(34)
6. Boundary Conditions
So, in this device we have two sonic points, one (reversed) at inlet, and one
(forward) either at the exit plane or somewhere in the channel. This provides either
two boundary conditions, or one (Equation (34)) plus one internal condition of
smooth sonic passage. Looking at Equations (25-28) we count 6 differential
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 11 of 20
equations. However, we can assume the integration constants
m
Γ and
d
Γ are
prescribed, which leaves as in need of two additional boundary conditions.
[Comment: Prescribing both,
m
Γ and
d
Γ becomes redundant once full ionization is
reached; a more realistic prescription would be
m
Γ and the total applied voltage V.
However, most of V develops in the supersonic near-plume, outside the channel, and
is not captured in this analysis.]
The two missing conditions must play the role of connectors to the outside plume. In
an ordinary gas flow, conditions upstream of the sonic point would be fully decoupled
from those downstream. But in this problem we are dealing with two counter flowing
streams, and electrons, in particular, do carry information from the outside back to
the plasma in the channel. The most obvious part is that the mean energy()
e
T of the
backstreaming electrons entering the channel must increase (linearly?) as the total
voltage V increases. We therefore prescribe ( )
e
T L as a kind of proxy for the applied
voltage. A more subtle effect is that the fraction of the electrons emitted by the
downstream cathode which do backstream to the channel must depend on details of
the outside region comprising the cathode itself and the near plume. Pending a
model of this region, we also prescribe
( )
e
d
LΓ
Γ
.
7. Anatomy of the Discharge
Since analytical full solution is out of the question, it is useful to analyze the different
regions in the thruster according to the dominant mechanisms in them. Numerical
integration is, of course possible, and detailed results are presented in Reference (1)
(for the choked-exit case) and Reference (2) (for the smooth sonic passage case).
Unsteady effects have also been considered in Reference (3). Figure 1, from
Reference (1) shows a useful categorization,
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 12 of 20
which has resulted from a combination of basic considerations, detailed numerical
solutions, and examination of experimental data. We will in the following sections
offer partial analyses for several of these regions.
8. The Presheath and the Diffusion Zone
In the region B-C-D, ionization is very weak, because
e
T has fallen to a low value as
the electrons lose energy in the ionization layer.
Setting
ion
=0ν ,
we can form the ratio
() ()
i
v × Equation 29 Equation 31 :
i
e
i
n
Sketch of the channel: L is the channel length; r
1
and r
2
are the inner and
outer radius, respectively; , and are the axial flows of neutral gas,
ions, and electrons, respectively; B(x) is the profile of the radial magnetic
field; A is the anode, E is the channel exit, B is the transition from the
space-charge sheath to the quasineutral channel, and S (that can coincide
with E) is the sonic point for ions. Three regions are usually distinguished
in the quasineutral channel: the anode presheath BC, the diffusion zone
CD, and the ionization zone DE.
n i e
r
1
r
2
A B D
L
B(x)
Plume
S EC
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 13 of 20
ii
i
e
vdv 5
=- m
kdT 2
or
2
ii
e
mv 5
+ kT = constant
22
(35)
At x=0 (point B), we use (34):
() () ()
ee e
15 5 10
kT 0 + kT 0 = constant constant = kT 0
23 2 3
→
or
()
2
ii
ee
mv4
T= T 0-
35k
(36)
This can now be substituted into (29):
()
e ee
ii ee ee2
iii
kT 0 v
44
- m dv = m dx = m dx
35v
??
Γ
νν
??
Γ
??
Since
e
Γ and
i
Γ are constant in this region (no ionization), we can integrate again
(assuming
e
ν null constant as well):
()
e e
ii ee
ii
0
kT 0
44
--mv=C+mx
3v 5
??Γ
ν
??
Γ
??
(37)
At x=0
()
0
e
ii
i
kT
5
v=v 0=-
3m
,
giving
()
ii
8
C=- mv 0
5
.
Then (37) can be written as
() () ()
2
eeeii
ii i
5m xvv
21+ +1=0
v0 v08mv0
??
?? ??
Γν
?? ??? ??
Γ
??
?? ??
??
(38)
Defining a “pre-sheath thickness”
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 14 of 20
()
ii
i
ps
eee
0
mv 0
8
x=
5m
??Γ
??
Γν
??
(39)
the solution to (38) is
()
2
i
ipsps
v xx
=1+ ± 1+ -1
v0 x x
??
??
??
(select lower sign) (40)
ps
1
=
x
1+
x
?
Notice that for
ps
x>>x , the upper sign choice leads to
()
i
ips
v 2x
v0 x
→ while the lower
choice gives
()
ps
i
i
x
v
v0 2x
→ . Since ( )
i
v0<0, the first of these would imply a reverse
ion flow which is decelerating towards sonic, and is therefore unphysical. For that
reason, the lower sign has been selected. Since
( )
i
0
e
i
n=
v
Γ
, we also have then
() () ()
()
2
ii i
e
2
ips ps
ps ps
0v0 0
xx
n= = 1+ + 1+ -1
v0 x x
xx
1+ - 1+ -1
? ?
Γ??Γ
? ?
??
? ?
????
? ?
? ?
??
??
(41)
Returning to (36), we can now calculate also
()
2
ps
e
2
e
ps ps
x
1+ -1
x
T 2
=1+
T0 3
xx
1+ + 1+ -1
??
??
??
??
??
??
(42)
The electric field follows from (32), for example. It is actually easier to return to (26)
and integrate it (with
ion
=0ν ) to
()
22
iiii
mv 0mv
+e =
22
φ (43)
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 15 of 20
and then, using (40),
()
2
ps
e
2
ps ps
x
1+ -1
x
kT 0
5
=
3e
xx
1+ + 1+ -1
??
??
??
φ
??
??
??
(44)
and, by differentiation,
()
s
ss
e
p
x 2
22
ppp
kT 0
5
3ex
E=
xxx
1+ 1 1+ + 1+ -1
?
??
?? ??
??
??? ??
?? ??
??
(45)
The limits of these expressions when
ps
x >> x (namely, in the diffusion region), are
simple:
()
( )
()
ps i
i
e
ps i psi
x 0
vx2
; - ; n
vxv0
Γ
→∞ → →
()
() ( )
s
2
pee
e
x 3
e
xkT 0 kT 0
T 45 5
; ; E = -
T0 3 6 e 12 e x
→φ→ (46)
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 16 of 20
0
4
1
x
x
ps1
-1
3
5
6
v
i
v
i
(0)
ef
kT
e
(0)
T
e
(0)
T
e
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 17 of 20
Notice how the electric field is very weak, except right near the anode, within the
presheath, where the ions accelerate to sonic speed. Also, the temperature reaches a
constant value outside the presheath, at 4/3 the sheath-edge value (this is
+1
2
γ
with
5
=
3
γ ). The electron density increases linearly in the diffusion region: ions need to
advance towards the anode (in order to maintain neutrality), and since the field is
too weak to move them against the collisional drag, a density gradient must appear
so as to produce diffusion instead.
Combining the asymptotic form
( )
()
i
e
ips
0
2x
n
v0x
Γ
null with Equation (39) for
ps
x, we can
write for the diffusion region
()
()
e
eee
e
0
3
nmx
4kT 0
Γ
νnull (47)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
1 2 3 4 5
n
e
x
x
ps
(
i
/ v
i
)
0
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 18 of 20
(NOTE: If B is non-uniform, so that ( )
ee
=xνν , the factor
e
xν is simply replaced by
x
e
0
dxν
∫
).
9. The Transition to the Ionization Layer
As x increases away from the anode,
e
n cannot continue to increase indefinitely
according to (47), because its maximum value must be of the order of
mi,exit
vΓ ,
assuming near-full ionization. The end of the diffusion layer will be marked by an
increase in
e
T that will initiate ionization. Eventually, a forward field
x
E will develop as
well, but the analysis allowing both
e
T and φto vary as well as ionization to occur, is
too complicated. We analyze first the portion of the ionization layer in which
e
T rises,
but
x
E remains negligible. In this region, the form (24) of the energy equation is
useful:
'
eei
5
kT +E = constant
2
??
Γ
??
??
Evaluate the constant in the diffusion region, where ()
ee
4
T =T0
3
and ()
ee
=0ΓΓ :
()
()
'
ei
e
'
e
ei
10
kT 0 +E
3
=
5
0
kT +E
2
Γ
Γ
(48)
In the diffusion layer,
'
eii
33
kT << E E
10 4
~ , and so, even though (48) indicates a
change in
e
Γ as soon as
e
T increases, the change will be slight at first. We can then
approximately integrate (27), with
ex
= constant and E = 0ν , to
ee eee
nkT -m xΓνnull (notice this is implied in Equation 47) (49)
From (48),
e
eeion
'
ee
ei
dT5
k
dnν1
2dx
- = =
5
dx
kT +E
2
Γ
ΓΓ
and, using (49),
2
ee
'
eeion e i
kTdT
xdx
2
mkT+E
5
??
νν
??
??
null (50)
In the range where
ei
kT << E , the strong variability of
ion
ν with
e
T appears (see
Equations 5-7) in the exponential
ie
-E kT
e , if we write for now
ie
-E kT
ion
ceν null , then
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 19 of 20
() ()
i
e
33E
2 2
eekTee
ee
ion i ion i ion
kT kTkTdT
k11
Te dT - d - d
cEE
? ?
??
? ?
??
ννν
? ?
??
? ?
nullnull null
where the last step ignores a weaker term due to ()
3
e
ion
1
dkT
ν
. With these
approximations, (50) integrates to
()
()
ee
3
e2
'
eeioni e i
4
TT0
3
2kT
L
2
mEkT+E
5
??
??
??
νν
??
????
null
null (51)
where L is the channel length (mainly its diffusion part), and T
e
, K are evaluated in
the diffusion region, which contributes the most to the integral. Given the length L,
the B field, etc, Equation (51) determines ( )
e
T 0 , and therefore ( )
i
v0and other
quantities required in the previous section.
Figure (2) shows numerical results of integrating the full set of differential equations,
as well as (dotted) those obtained using the approximations of the last two sections.
Notice in particular that the rise of
e
T , once started, is quite rapid, and leads to peak
values
MAX
ei
TE~ , at which ionization is rapid. The main body of the ionization layer is
therefore very thin.
A quick argument for sonic exit to the ionization layer
In (29), assume (to be verified) that ()
eeei e ion
MAX
55
mvv<<kT
33
νν. Notice the bracket
in (29) is >0 (since
e
v<0). Then, given the inequality above, the only way the RHS
can cross zero if ()
ion ion
MAX
<<νν. The zero-crossing occurs at a smooth sonic point
(where the LHS = 0). On the subsonic side of this, LHS>0, so this must be where the
ion
... > 0ν ??
??
term dominates; conversely, on the supersonic side,
ion
...ν ??
??
must become
negligible. This means by the time the sonic point is reached,
ion
ν has fallen to nearly
zero, which can only be because
n
n has been depleted - full ionization.
16.522, Space Propulsion Lecture 18
Prof. Manuel Martinez-Sanchez Page 20 of 20
References:
Ahedo, E., and M. Martinez-Sanchez. “AIAA 98-8788, One–dimensional Plasma
Structure in Hall Thrusters.” 34th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference
and Exhibit. Cleveland, OH, July 13-15, 1998, E.T.S.I. Aeronáuticos Universidad
Politécnica, Madrid, Spain and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge,
MA.
M
*
1
0.5
0
-0.5
-1
0 1
2
x/l
*
*
8
6
4
2
0
0 1
2
x/l
*
n
/
n
*
i
/
*
*
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
-0.2
0 1 2
x/l
*
*
/
T
*
T
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 1 2
x/l
*
*
Plasma profiles for a channel with choked exit, no wall losses (l*/h
d / m
= 1
, T
eB
/ E
i
= 0.10,
iB / m
= -0.01,
*
=
m
. Solid and dashed lines correspond to the exact and the approximate solution, respectively. Asterisks in figures correspond toand
point B.
0), uniform B-field,
c
/
*
= 1,
a
b
c
d
(
n
)
/
(
n
*
T
*
)
T
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 1 2
x/l
*
e
/
T
*
q
*
0.5
0
-0.5
-1
-1.5
0 1.5
x/l
*
0.5 1
f