journal article·2024-11-01Open access

Analysis of azimuthal electron current driving by rotating magnetic field in field-reversed configuration electric propulsion

Qiangqiang Chen, Yanhui Jia, Xinfeng Sun, Fangwei Lv, Hai Geng, Bo Rao

AIP Advances· Volume 14· Issue 11

Abstract

Field-reversed configuration electric propulsion is an advanced space electromagnetic propulsion technology with significant application prospects but poor thrust performance. To delve into the intrinsic physical mechanisms, a model of the rotating magnetic field penetrating into the plasma and azimuthal electron current driving was developed. The simulation results show that rotating magnetic field strength, frequency, and initial seed plasma density are the key factors that exist as an optimal threshold. Specifically, the rotating magnetic field feed current (i.e., magnetic field strength) was not less than 1000 A, the rotating magnetic field frequency was ∼200–300 kHz, and the plasma density was approximately 1 × 1018 m−3 order of magnitude.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Plasma Diagnostics and Applications · Electrohydrodynamics and Fluid Dynamics · Particle accelerators and beam dynamics

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Science and Technology on Vacuum Technology and Physics Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Space Electric Propulsion Technology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Physics 1 , Lanzhou 730000,

Huazhong University of Science and Technology 2 , Wuhan 430070,

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province

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