The azimuthal currents in the ion-driven magnetic nozzle

作     者：Zhiyuan Chen Yibai Wang Haibin Tang Junxue Ren Min Li Peng Wu Jinbin Cao 

作者机构：School of AstronauticsBeihang UniversityBeijing102206China Key Laboratory of Spacecraft Design Optimization and Dynamic Simulation TechnologiesMinistry of EducationBeijing102206China Laboratory of Space Environment Monitoring and Information ProcessingMinistry of Industry and Information TechnologyBeijing102206China Innovation Academy of MicrosatellitesChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201203China School of Space and EnvironmentBeihang UniversityBeijing102206China 

出 版 物：《Propulsion and Power Research》 (推进与动力（英文）)

年 卷 期：2022年第11卷第4期

页      面：457-472页

核心收录：

学科分类：02[经济学] 0202[经济学-应用经济学] 0807[工学-动力工程及工程热物理] 0802[工学-机械工程] 0825[工学-航空宇航科学与技术] 

基　　金：supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11872093)and the High Performance Computing(HPC)resources at Beihang University. 

主　　题：Magnetic nozzle Azimuthal current Ion temperature Electric propulsion 

摘      要：Ion-driven magnetic nozzles(TiTe)are designed as intrinsic parts of cutting-edge propulsive technologies such as variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rockets(VASIMRs)and applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters.Employing a two-dimensional axisymmetric particle-in-cell(PIC)code,in the ion-driven magnetic nozzle,the compositions and distributions of azimuthal currents in different axial regions are investigated under various inlet ion temperatures Ti0 and found to differ dramatically from that in the electron-driven magnetic nozzles.Previously reported to be all paramagnetic and vanishing under a high magnetic field,the azimuthal currents resulting from the E 3 B drift are shown to turn diamagnetic and sustain a considerable magnitude when Ti0 is considered.The previously reported profile of diamagnetic drift current is altered by the introduction of inlet ion temperature,and the paramagnetic part is significantly suppressed.Moreover,a wide range of paramagnetic currents appear downstream due to the inward detachment of ions,which can also be reduced by increasing inlet ion temperature.Albeit considered in this paper,the azimuthal currents resulting from grad-B and curvature drift are still negligible in all cases of interest.The magnitude of diamagnetic azimuthal currents increases with amplifying Ti0,indicating a clear physical image of energy transformation from ion thermal energy to the directed kinetic energy through electromagnetic processes in the magnetic nozzle.Additionally,the magnetic inductive strength also has noticeable impacts on the azimuthal currents,the current magnitude tends to decrease as the magnetic field increases,and over-increment of it may result in larger divergence angles and lower nozzle efficiency.