Electron-wall Interaction in Hall Thrusters

Technical Report · Fri Feb 11 04:00:00 EST 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/836853· OSTI ID:836853

Raitses, Y ^[1]; Staack, D; Keidar, M; Fisch, N J

---

1. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

Electron-wall interaction effects in Hall thrusters are studied through measurements of the plasma response to variations of the thruster channel width and the discharge voltage. The discharge voltage threshold is shown to separate two thruster regimes. Below this threshold, the electron energy gain is constant in the acceleration region and therefore, secondary electron emission (SEE) from the channel walls is insufficient to enhance electron energy losses at the channel walls. Above this voltage threshold, the maximum electron temperature saturates.

• Research Organization: Princeton Plasma Physics Lab., Princeton, NJ (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC) (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03073
• OSTI ID: 836853
• Report Number(s): PPPL-4050
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ACCELERATION
ELECTRIC PROPULSION
ELECTRON EMISSION
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRONS
ENERGY LOSSES
PLASMA
PLASMA-WALL INTERACTION
SHEATH
THRUSTERS