Three-dimensional Particle-In-Cell Simulation of a Pulsed Plasma Thruster: Modeling and Challenges

In order to simulate the rarefied plasma flow within pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs), a fully kinetic approach for the Boltzmann-Maxwell equations is under development by IAG (Institute of Aerodynamics and Gas Dynamics, Universität Stuttgart), IRS (Institute of Space Systems, Universität Stuttgart), ASE (Applied Supercomputing in Engineering, German Research School for Simulation Sciences) and IHM (Institute for Pulsed Power and Microwave Technology, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie). An attractive numerical method to solve the Boltzmann-Maxwell problem without collisions is the Particle-InCell method. To additionally take the change of the distribution function due to binary reactions and charged particle Coulomb interactions, i.e. the Boltzmann collision integral, into account, the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method and a stochastic approach is applied, respectively. However, to simulate a PPT, various additional effects have to be