PRINCE: A software tool for characterizing waves and instabilities in plasma thrusters

Sebastián Rojas Mata, Edgar Y. Choueiri, Benjamin Jorns, Rostislav Spektor

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

Abstract

An interactive software tool is developed to characterize the waves and instabilities present in plasma thrusters by solving for the complex zeros of plasma dispersion rela- tions. This tool helps researchers explore plasma waves and instabilities in their particular plasma thruster configuration. A user-friendly graphical interface allows versatile data in- put and parametric control. The zeros of the dispersion relation are located and tracked by root-finding algorithms based on Cauchy’s Argument Principle and Newton-Raphson’s method. Information about the instabilities found is presented through various data visu- alization options. The software tool is validated by reproducing previous work concerning instabilities arising in Hall thrusters from solutions to a simplified Esipchuk-Tilinin disper- sion relation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication52nd AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, 2016
PublisherAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA
ISBN (Print)9781624104060
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016
Event52nd AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, 2016 - Salt Lake City, United States
Duration: Jul 25 2016Jul 27 2016

Publication series

Name52nd AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, 2016

Other

Other52nd AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, 2016
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySalt Lake City
Period7/25/167/27/16

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering

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