Particle Simulation of a Micro ICP Plasma Source for Miniature Ion Thruster

POSTER

Abstract

There has recently been an ongoing trend toward decreasing the mass, dimension, and overall complexity of spacecraft. Propulsion systems are no exception. We have developed an electrothermal-type microthruster so far, which can produce a relatively high thrust, and have investigated the thrust performance with an experimental and numerical approach. On the other hand, a microthruster with a high specific impulse, such as ion thruster, is also required. The micro ion thruster presented here uses a cylindrical micro ICP with a flat spiral coil for its ion source, the inner radius and the length of which are 3 mm and 6 mm, respectively. To investigate the plasma characteristics of the source, we have developed a particle simulation model (PIC/MC: Particle-in-Cell/Monte Carlo) for Ar gas as a propellant. The simulation results showed that the electron density obtained was $\sim 10^{17}$ m$^ {-3}$ at an Ar gas pressure of 4 mTorr with an absorbed power of 10 mW, producing a thrust of 50 $\mu$N and specific impulse of 7000 s.

Authors

  • Yoshinori Takao

  • Tug Yasar

    Theoretical Electrical Engineering, Ruhr-Universit\"at Bochum, Tokyo Electron AT LTD, Ruhr University Bochum, Pusan National University, Department of Electronic Engineering, Tohoku University, GE Historian, TET, AEPT, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Korean Institute of Energy Research, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunsan National University, University of California at Berkeley, Dept. of Chemistry, Ajou University, GE Global Reseach, Niskayuna, US, TRINITI, Troizck, Russia, Kintech Lab, Moscow, Russia, HanYang University, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Institute for Theoretical Electrical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, Chubu University, NEC Corporation, Nagoya University, Universit\'e Paris-Sud, Dong-A University, Saga University, University of Ryukyus, Sasebo National College of Technology, Faculty of Stomatology, Belgrade, Serbia, Institute of Physics, Belgrade, Serbia, Seagate Technology, NIBEC, LPP, Ecole Polytechnique, France, State University, Saint-Petersburg, LPP, Ecole Polytechnique, Dept. of Physics, California State University, Fullerton, CA, Institute of High Performance Computing, Singapore, Dept. of Physics, UAE University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Dept. of Physics, Missouri University of Sci. \& Tech., Rolla, MO, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, University of Adelaide, Australia, Missouri University of Science and Technology, M.M.H. College, Ghaziabad, The Open University, University of Kentucky, Department of Applied Physics, Hanyang University, Ansan, Kyunggi-Do 426-791, South Korea, Hiden Analytical Ltd, Warrington, UK, Queens University Belfast, UK, University of Nevada, Reno,USA, Stalder Technologies and Research, Redwood City, USA, Queen's University Belfast, Loras College, Auburn University, LBNL, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Newcastle-Ourimbah, Pacific Union College, University of Manchester (UK), Los Alamos National Laboratory, IMEC, Leuven, Belgium, Nuclear Physics Institute, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, Kintech Lab Ltd, Tokyo Electron Ltd., Kyoto University, Zeon Corporation, CAMS, University of Adelaide, South Australia, University of North Texas, Denton, CAMS, Australian National University, Canberra, Drake University, University of Western Australia, Fraunhofer Institute IVV Freising, Ruhr-University Bochum, University of California, San Diego, CAMS, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Univ. Groningen, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Surfx Technologies, Cymer, Inc., Department of Physics, Florida A\&M University, Dept. of Physics, UAE University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab, Dept. of Physics, Missouri University of Science \& Technology, Rolla, Mo, Institute for Plasma and Atomic Physics, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany, Faculty of Physics, Sofia University, 5, J. Bourchier Blvd., BG-1164 Sofia, Bulgaria, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, RRC Kurchatov Inst., Moscow, Russia, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan, Macquarie University, University of Windsor, Mattson Technology Inc, Plasma Dynamics, RF Plasma Consulting, James Cook University Townsville, Institute of Physics Belgrade, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ, USA, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Kyoto University, GE Global Reseach, Niskayuna,US, IPFN - IST, Portugal, St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, Texas A\&M Mechanical Engineering, B \& W Group Ltd, UK, Belgrade, Institute of Physics, NIBEC University of Ulster, Dep. Fis/UCO, Cordoba, Spain, IPFN/IST, Lisbon, Portugal, ICMSE/CSIC, Sevilla, Spain, St. Petersburg State University, Russia, LPGP/UPS, Orsay, France, Seoul National University, Daehak-dong, Kwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea, Hanyang University, Plasmetrex GmbH Berlin, LATMOS/UVSQ, Verrieres le Buisson, France, Hungarian Academy for Science, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Global Strategies Group (North America), Sandia National Laboratories, Lebedev Physics Institute, Moscow, Department of Physics, Kurdistan region, Duhok University, Iraq, SPbSU, AFRL, Instituto de Ciencias Fisicas, UNAM, UES Inc., 4401 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Beavercreek, OH 45322, USA, Seoul National University, Samsung Electronics Co., University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Queen`s University Belfast, GE Research Laboratory, US, TRINITI, Troitsk, Russia, Dept. of Math \& Physics, Troy University, CPP Queens University Belfast, Department of Electrical Engineering, Hanyang University, Nagoya University, JST-CREST, NIST, Katagiri Engineering Co., Ltd., NU System Co., Ltd., Meijo University, Wakayama University, NU EcoEngineering Co., Ltd., University of Kansas, Princeton University, The von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Institute of Physics, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, VSEA, Center for Atomic and Molecular Technologies, Osaka University, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Tokyo Electron, US. Holdings

  • Tug Yasar

    Theoretical Electrical Engineering, Ruhr-Universit\"at Bochum, Tokyo Electron AT LTD, Ruhr University Bochum, Pusan National University, Department of Electronic Engineering, Tohoku University, GE Historian, TET, AEPT, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Korean Institute of Energy Research, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunsan National University, University of California at Berkeley, Dept. of Chemistry, Ajou University, GE Global Reseach, Niskayuna, US, TRINITI, Troizck, Russia, Kintech Lab, Moscow, Russia, HanYang University, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Institute for Theoretical Electrical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, Chubu University, NEC Corporation, Nagoya University, Universit\'e Paris-Sud, Dong-A University, Saga University, University of Ryukyus, Sasebo National College of Technology, Faculty of Stomatology, Belgrade, Serbia, Institute of Physics, Belgrade, Serbia, Seagate Technology, NIBEC, LPP, Ecole Polytechnique, France, State University, Saint-Petersburg, LPP, Ecole Polytechnique, Dept. of Physics, California State University, Fullerton, CA, Institute of High Performance Computing, Singapore, Dept. of Physics, UAE University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Dept. of Physics, Missouri University of Sci. \& Tech., Rolla, MO, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, University of Adelaide, Australia, Missouri University of Science and Technology, M.M.H. College, Ghaziabad, The Open University, University of Kentucky, Department of Applied Physics, Hanyang University, Ansan, Kyunggi-Do 426-791, South Korea, Hiden Analytical Ltd, Warrington, UK, Queens University Belfast, UK, University of Nevada, Reno,USA, Stalder Technologies and Research, Redwood City, USA, Queen's University Belfast, Loras College, Auburn University, LBNL, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Newcastle-Ourimbah, Pacific Union College, University of Manchester (UK), Los Alamos National Laboratory, IMEC, Leuven, Belgium, Nuclear Physics Institute, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, Kintech Lab Ltd, Tokyo Electron Ltd., Kyoto University, Zeon Corporation, CAMS, University of Adelaide, South Australia, University of North Texas, Denton, CAMS, Australian National University, Canberra, Drake University, University of Western Australia, Fraunhofer Institute IVV Freising, Ruhr-University Bochum, University of California, San Diego, CAMS, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Univ. Groningen, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Surfx Technologies, Cymer, Inc., Department of Physics, Florida A\&M University, Dept. of Physics, UAE University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab, Dept. of Physics, Missouri University of Science \& Technology, Rolla, Mo, Institute for Plasma and Atomic Physics, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany, Faculty of Physics, Sofia University, 5, J. Bourchier Blvd., BG-1164 Sofia, Bulgaria, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, RRC Kurchatov Inst., Moscow, Russia, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan, Macquarie University, University of Windsor, Mattson Technology Inc, Plasma Dynamics, RF Plasma Consulting, James Cook University Townsville, Institute of Physics Belgrade, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ, USA, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Kyoto University, GE Global Reseach, Niskayuna,US, IPFN - IST, Portugal, St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, Texas A\&M Mechanical Engineering, B \& W Group Ltd, UK, Belgrade, Institute of Physics, NIBEC University of Ulster, Dep. Fis/UCO, Cordoba, Spain, IPFN/IST, Lisbon, Portugal, ICMSE/CSIC, Sevilla, Spain, St. Petersburg State University, Russia, LPGP/UPS, Orsay, France, Seoul National University, Daehak-dong, Kwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea, Hanyang University, Plasmetrex GmbH Berlin, LATMOS/UVSQ, Verrieres le Buisson, France, Hungarian Academy for Science, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Global Strategies Group (North America), Sandia National Laboratories, Lebedev Physics Institute, Moscow, Department of Physics, Kurdistan region, Duhok University, Iraq, SPbSU, AFRL, Instituto de Ciencias Fisicas, UNAM, UES Inc., 4401 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Beavercreek, OH 45322, USA, Seoul National University, Samsung Electronics Co., University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Queen`s University Belfast, GE Research Laboratory, US, TRINITI, Troitsk, Russia, Dept. of Math \& Physics, Troy University, CPP Queens University Belfast, Department of Electrical Engineering, Hanyang University, Nagoya University, JST-CREST, NIST, Katagiri Engineering Co., Ltd., NU System Co., Ltd., Meijo University, Wakayama University, NU EcoEngineering Co., Ltd., University of Kansas, Princeton University, The von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Institute of Physics, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, VSEA, Center for Atomic and Molecular Technologies, Osaka University, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Tokyo Electron, US. Holdings