Hall Thruster Plume Studies using the BeamServer Antenna Pattern Code
Abstract
BeamServer is a ray tracing code developed to study the effect of plasma thruster plumes on satellite communication signals. Rays are launched from the antenna feed, traced through the region containing antenna reflectors and plasma, and terminated on an exit surface. The electric field on the exit surface is then used to calculate the far-field antenna pattern, using the radiation integral. To verify both the code operation and our thruster plasma density models a "ground test" is planned, where a Hall thruster will be operated in a vacuum tank and a microwave system will transmit through the plume. Direct comparisons with ground test experimental data can be made on the BeamServer exit plane. To facilitate this extensive studies of the electric field magnitude and phase as a function of frequency and spatial location have been made. In addition, the Hall thruster exhibits large amplitude plasma instabilities, typically in the 25 KHz range. We have added instability models to the BeamServer code, and added time as a variable. Fourier transforms can be applied to either the exit plane or far-field patterns. We will present these studies and discuss the planned ground test.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002APS..DPPFP1021H