Development of a Plasma Chemistry Model for Helicon Plasma Thruster analysis

Abstract The present work is part of a wider project aimed at improving the description plasma dynamics during production phase Helicon Plasma Thruster. In particular, was focused on development chemical model for Argon- and Xenon-based plasma. developed consists collisional radiative suitable to describe 1 s 2 p excited levels. meant be complementary 3D-VIRTUS, numerical tool which enforces fluid plasma, by University Padova analyse helicon discharges. Once identified, significant reactions both propellants, reaction rate coefficients, have been integrated exploiting cross sections from literature assuming Maxwellian velocity distribution function all species. These coefficients validated against experimental measurements an Argon Inductively Coupled compared with well-established code. For Argon, selected reduced through proposed lumping methodology. this way, it possible reduce number equations system solve, implement them into 3D-VIRTUS. A validation case taken performed, showing good agreement results. Regarding Xenon model, only verification has performed results another collisional-radiative in literature. Finally, predictive analysis propulsive performances Thruster presented.