Hall thrusters operate based on the principle of electron confinement. The fundamental objective is to confine electrons using magnetic fields so they can ionize neutral propellants and thus create and sustain a plasma. The ions formed are then accelerated out of the thruster by an electric field to produce thrust.
Thruster Life and Magnetic Field: The thruster lifetime is strongly influenced by the topology of the magnetic field, particularly the placement of the lens. Erosion shortens the thruster’s life due to problems such as divergence from equipotentials and the creation of plasma sheaths close to the thruster’s walls.
Magnetic Protection: The problem of ceramic wall degradation in Hall thrusters is addressed by this technique. The lifetime of a thruster can be significantly increased by altering the magnetic field topology. Effective magnetic shielding requires a “grazing line” tangent to the wall near the exit that penetrates deeply. By creating an electric field that keeps ions from penetrating the wall, this arrangement lessens erosion.
REFS:
[1] Maryam Reza, Eugenio Ferrato, Farbod Faraji, Tommaso Andreussi, Mariano Andrenucci, “Magnetic Circuit Optimization for Hall Thrusters Design”, IEPC-2019-A459 Presented at the 36th International Electric Propulsion Conference, University of Vienna • Vienna, Austria, September 15-20, 2019
NB-“PhyThematics” is meant to be a short calligraphic text containing calculus or content related to science, aiming to maximize understanding of physics and natural processes and help science benefit society. For the fun of it. Remember, for better learning:
- Write notes in books
- Add unique visual notes to digital documents
- Stick with paper and a pen for creative pursuits.
Science2be 