Research Projects

Hall thrusters are being used for in-space propulsion functions on spacecraft. The ground experiments of electric thrusters is to predict the behaviour of the thruster in space. Exact space conditions simulation in laboratory is a high end task. Though a standard low pressure conditions are set as a scale for operation of thrusters, the interaction of plasma plume with background gas and chamber boundaries is inevitable. In this regard, the effects of back ground pressure and chamber boundaries (facility effects) on the Hall thruster performance attains crucial role in estimating the actual behaviour in space. The background pressure increases the neutral collisions and hence plasma plume divergence and the electron transport are affected. Hence the simulations of interaction of plasma plume and effects on electrons transport with background pressure and chamber boundary is needed.