Fluid-kinetic model of a propulsive magnetic nozzle

Abstract A kinetic-electron, fluid-ion model is used to study the 2D plasma expansion in an axisymmetric magnetic nozzle fully-magnetized, cold-ion, collisionless limit. Electrons are found be subdivided into free, reflected, and doubly-trapped sub-populations. The net charge current electrostatic potential fall on each line related by kinetic electron response, together with initial profiles of temperature, determine thermodynamics expansion. Results include evolution density, anisotropy ratio sub-population. different contributions ions electrons generation thrust analyzed for upstream conditions representative thruster types. Equivalent polytropic models same total seen result a slower rate, therefore underpredict generated up fixed section nozzle.