An axially propagating two-stream instability in the Hall thruster plasma

Journal Article · Tue Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4890025· OSTI ID:22299808

Cavalier, J. ^[1]; Héron, A. ^[2]; Honoré, C.; Grésillon, D. ^[3]; Lemoine, N.; Coulette, D. ^[4]

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1. Institute of Plasma Physics ASCR, Prague (Czech Republic)
2. CPHT, CNRS (UMR 7644), Ecole Polytechnique, Route de Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau (France)
3. LPP, CNRS (UMR 7648), Ecole Polytechnique-Univ. Paris-Sud-UPMC Univ. Paris 06, Route de Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau (France)
4. IJL, CNRS (UMR 7198), Université de Lorraine, BP 70239, 54506 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy (France)

Collective Thomson scattering experiments reveal the presence of high-frequency, axial electron density fluctuations at millimetric wavelengths in the Hall thruster plasma. The properties of these fluctuations are investigated experimentally and via linear kinetic theory. The relative drift of electrons and ions in the axial direction is found to be insufficient to cause excitation of the observed mode. Instead, the mode is determined to be a two-stream instability arising due to the velocity difference between singly and doubly charged ion populations in the plume.

• OSTI ID: 22299808
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 21, Issue 7; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ELECTRON DENSITY
EXCITATION
FLUCTUATIONS
IONS
PLASMA
PLUMES
THOMSON SCATTERING
THRUSTERS
TWO-STREAM INSTABILITY
WAVELENGTHS