Open AccessEffect of electron temperature anisotropy on BN dielectric wall sheath characteristics in Hall thrusters
Author(s) -
Yu Daren,
Qing Shao-Wei,
Xiaogang Wang,
Yongjie Ding,
Ping Duan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
wuli xuebao
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.199
H-Index - 47
ISSN - 1000-3290
DOI - 10.7498/aps.60.025204
Subject(s) - electron temperature , electron , plasma , anisotropy , debye sheath , materials science , atomic physics , hall effect , xenon , drop (telecommunication) , ion , condensed matter physics , dielectric , secondary emission , electron hole , physics , electrical resistivity and conductivity , optics , optoelectronics , quantum mechanics , telecommunications , computer science
The effect of electron temperature anisotropy on BN dielectric wall sheath characteristics in Hall thruster plasma is studied by using a one-dimensional fluid sheath model with the help of emitted electron velocity distribution and multi-species mixed ion effects. Analytic results show that, in comparison with that of a pure univalent xenon plasma, the sheath potential drop and the critical secondary electron emission coefficient are decreased in mixed valence xenon plasmas, while the primary electron flux at the wall is increased. The electron temperature anisotropy in Hall thrusters thus significantly enhances the electron energy emission coefficient, and further reduces the sheath potential drop while intensifies the electron-wall interaction. Numerical results also indicate that the electron temperature anisotropy influences the potential distribution of space charge saturated sheath remarkably.