Stability of Ion Flow and Role of Boundary Conditions in a Simplified Model of the E × B Plasma Accelerator with a Uniform Electron Mobility

Abstract: Resistive oscillations of axial plasma with ionization effects are analyzed in configuration similar to the Hall effect thrusters. From analysis of stationary equations we have identified different types of the steady-state plasma flow profiles and use these solutions as initial conditions in time-dependent initial value simulations. We have identified unstable regimes with intrinsic oscillations, as well as stable regions without oscillations. It was found that nonlinear oscillations may exist in different form depending on the range of plasma parameters. Single mode coherent, multi-mode with nonlinear harmonics, and incoherent (stochastic) mode regimes were identified. We have further investigated the role of boundary conditions on the characteristics of nonlinear oscillations.