Cathode erosion site distributions in an applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic thruster

Erosion can influence cathode life,and is thus considered to be one of the main factors limiting the application of applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters.In this paper,erosion sites on graphite cathodes are studied so as to identify the influence of applied magnetic field and the ratio of propellant mass flow rate supplied from cathode and anode.The experiment results show that the application of applied magnetic field can significantly reduce the erosion rate of the cathode compared to that without magnetic field.The erosion sites on the cathode vary with the relative position of the convergent-divergent magnetic field,and are mainly distributed in the divergent part of the field.The erosion sites on the cathodes are found to be related to the propellant supply.The decreasing anode mass flow rate enlarges the range of erosion.These results are much helpful for the analysis of cathode erosion site location since they provide evidences of erosion mechanisms and point out the directions for further research.

The azimuthal currents in the ion-driven magnetic nozzle

Ion-driven magnetic nozzles(Ti>Te)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.