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Space Charge Saturated Sheath Regime and Electron Temperature Saturation in Hall Thrusters

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/837855· OSTI ID:837855
Secondary electron emission in Hall thrusters is predicted to lead to space charge saturated wall sheaths resulting in enhanced power losses in the thruster channel. Analysis of experimentally obtained electron-wall collision frequency suggests that the electron temperature saturation, which occurs at high discharge voltages, appears to be caused by a decrease of the Joule heating rather than by the enhancement of the electron energy loss at the walls due to a strong secondary electron emission.
Research Organization:
Princeton Plasma Physics Lab., Princeton, NJ (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC) (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH03073
OSTI ID:
837855
Report Number(s):
PPPL-4058
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English