Particle Simulation of Plume Flows From an Anode Layer Hall Thruster

In this study, 2D simulations of xenon plasma plume flow fields from a D55 anode layer Hall thruster are performed with a hybrid particle-fluid method. In this simulation, the Boltzmann model and a detailed fluid model are used to compute the electron properties, the direct simulation Monte Carlo method models the collisions of heavy particles, and the Particle In Cell method models the transport of ions in electric fields. The accuracy of the simulation is assessed through comparison with available measured data. The simulation employing the detailed electron fluid model successfully captures detailed plume structures both in the near and far fields.