Electron kinetic effects and beam-related instabilities in hall discharges: Relaxation oscillations of the sheath

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Recent analytical studies and particle-in-cell simulations suggest that the electron velocity distribution function of a Hall thruster plasma is non-Maxwellian and anisotropic, resulting in many new properties of plasma in a Hall thruster. The present paper describes a regime of the discharge in which relaxation oscillations appear in the sheath near the thruster walls. The relaxation oscillations are observed in one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations under the condition of intense turbulent heating. In this regime, the plasma switches between a state with non-space charge limited emission and a state with space charge limited emission. Transition to the latter state occurs when the negative conductivity appears due to the modification of the velocity distribution of the plasma bulk electrons.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication35th EPS Conference on Plasma Physics 2008, EPS 2008 - Europhysics Conference Abstracts
Pages2202-2205
Number of pages4
Edition3
StatePublished - 2008
Event35th European Physical Society Conference on Plasma Physics, EPS 2008 Combined with the 10th International Workshop on Fast Ignition of Fusion Targets - Hersonissos, Crete, Greece
Duration: Jun 9 2008Jun 13 2008

Publication series

Name35th EPS Conference on Plasma Physics 2008, EPS 2008 - Europhysics Conference Abstracts
Number3
Volume32

Other

Other35th European Physical Society Conference on Plasma Physics, EPS 2008 Combined with the 10th International Workshop on Fast Ignition of Fusion Targets
Country/TerritoryGreece
CityHersonissos, Crete
Period6/9/086/13/08

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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