Estimate of Lifetime of Ion Thruster Optics Based on Particle Simulation

• 作 者: 刘畅 汤海滨 张振鹏 顾左 刘宇
• 机 构: School of Astronautics, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing 100083, China,La
• 出 处: Plasma Science and Technology
• 发表日期: 2008年01期
• 关键词: accelerator erosion optics downstream reasonably Focus listed quarter familiar L

A three-dimensional particle simulation of ion thruster optics with charge-exchangecollision was developed in this study.The simulation code was based on tracking ions using theparticle-in-cell method,and the Monte Carlo technique was used to model the charge-exchangecollision.Simulations were performed for a 20 cm ion thruster optics.The results were comparedwith the corresponding experimental data from a test of the ion thruster optics for a durationof 800 hours.The Depth-From-Focus (DFF) method was used to measure the erosion depth ofthe downstream surface of the accelerator grid.The predicted erosion depth of the acceleratorgrid was consistent reasonably with the corresponding experimental data.The simulation resultsshowed that the accelerator grid would be burned through after 1333 hours.

A three-dimensional particle simulation of ion thruster optics with charge-exchangecollision was developed in this study. The simulation code was based on tracking ions using the particle-in-cell method, and the Monte Carlo technique was used to model the charge-exchangecollision. Simulations were performed for a 20 cm ion thruster optics. The results were compared with the corresponding experimental data from a test of the ion thruster optics for a duration of 800 hours. Depth-From-Focus (DFF) method was used to measure the erosion depth of the downstream surface of the accelerator grid. The predicted erosion depth of the accelerator grid was consistent reasonably with the corresponding experimental data. The simulation resultsshowed that the accelerator grid would be burned through after 1333 hours.