Titov M. Stationary plasma thruster integral characteristics improvement by magnetic field gradient maximization

Object – physical processes of ionization and acceleration zone borders forming in acceleration channel of stationary plasma thruster; goal – improvement of stationary plasma thruster integral characteristics as a result of magnetic system optimization using maximum value of longitudinal gradient of magnetic field induction radial component as an optimality criterion; methods – finite elements, multi-factor regression model constructing, optimization, statistical data processing, probe plasma diagnostics, electrical parameters measuring; results – influence of magnetic system geometric parameters of the stationary plasma thruster on parameters of magnetic field has been determined and the most significant geometric parameters have been determined, what simplifies process of developing a new or optimizing existing magnetic system and decreases its duration, a polynomial model that connects significant geometric parameters of magnetic system with parameters of magnetic field in acceleration channel is constructed, and the use of which reduces time to study influence of significant geometric parameters of a magnetic system on the parameters of a magnetic field in acceleration channel of a stationary plasma thruster, f measuring complex for two-dimensional study of plasma parameters in acceleration channel of a stationary plasma thruster has been developed, application of which gives higher resolution of measurements and introduces less perturbations in thruster operation in comparison with other used two-dimensional means, and the use of which allows of improving the quality of measurements; novelty - relation between maximum value of radial component of magnetic field induction and position of ionization and acceleration zone boundaries at each width section of stationary plasma thruster accelerating channel was found out, and the use of which by changing the configuration of magnetic field allows narrowing and displacement of the ionization and acceleration zone in direction to the exit section of the thruster channel, what leads to an increase of the plume monochromaticity and a decrease of plume interaction with channel walls, for the first time a maximum longitudinal gradient of the magnetic field induction radial component is proposed as a criterion of magnetic system optimality, and the use of which during development of magnetic system allows of obtaining configuration of a magnetic field that increases specific impulse, thrust and thrust efficiency; the degree of implementation – the results are implemented into the educational process of the department of space technology and non-traditional energy sources of the National aerospace university named after N. Ye. Zhukovsky «КАІ», implemented into «Science Park “Radio Electronics and Informatics”; field of application – aerospace.