{"id":{"repo_id":"mit","oai_identifier":"oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/54613"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mit/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/54613","repository":{"repo_id":"mit","name":"MIT","base_url":"https://dspace.mit.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Fully kinetic modeling of a divergent cusped-field thruster","abstract":"A fully kinetic, particle-in-cell plasma simulation tool has been incrementally developed by members of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Space Propulsion Laboratory. Adapting this model to simulate the performance and plasma dynamics of a divergent cusped-field thruster is discussed. Strong magnetic fields in the cusps (B0.5 T) necessitate using a time step on the order of a picosecond in order to resolve electron cyclotron trajectories. As a result, successfully completing a divergent cusped-field thruster simulation with the full magnetic field strength has yet to be accomplished. As an intermediate step, simulation results of a divergent cusped-field thruster with the magnetic field at 1/5 the actual value are presented, including performance parameters and internal plasma structure details. Evidence suggests that even at 1/5 the magnetic field strength, ions are fully magnetized within certain regions of the divergent cusped-field thruster. This has strong implications concerning the basic operating principles of the thruster because the Hall effect does not result in a net flow of current in regions where ions are fully magnetized. Further modifications that may lead to successful simulations of divergent cusped-field thrusters at full magnetic field strength are also outlined, which may allow for more detailed studies of the plasma structure and performance of the cusped-field thruster.","abstract_html":"A fully kinetic, particle-in-cell plasma simulation tool has been incrementally developed by members of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Space Propulsion Laboratory. Adapting this model to simulate the performance and plasma dynamics of a divergent cusped-field thruster is discussed. Strong magnetic fields in the cusps (B0.5 T) necessitate using a time step on the order of a picosecond in order to resolve electron cyclotron trajectories. As a result, successfully completing a divergent cusped-field thruster simulation with the full magnetic field strength has yet to be accomplished. As an intermediate step, simulation results of a divergent cusped-field thruster with the magnetic field at 1/5 the actual value are presented, including performance parameters and internal plasma structure details. Evidence suggests that even at 1/5 the magnetic field strength, ions are fully magnetized within certain regions of the divergent cusped-field thruster. This has strong implications concerning the basic operating principles of the thruster because the Hall effect does not result in a net flow of current in regions where ions are fully magnetized. Further modifications that may lead to successful simulations of divergent cusped-field thrusters at full magnetic field strength are also outlined, which may allow for more detailed studies of the plasma structure and performance of the cusped-field thruster.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Gildea, Stephen Robert"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics.","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Manuel Martinez-Sanchez."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009","date_published":"2009","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:04Z","subjects":["Aeronautics and Astronautics."],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."],"rights_urls":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/54613","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Manuel Martinez-Sanchez."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.other","label":"Dc Contributor Other","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 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Adapting this model to simulate the performance and plasma dynamics of a divergent cusped-field thruster is discussed. Strong magnetic fields in the cusps (B0.5 T) necessitate using a time step on the order of a picosecond in order to resolve electron cyclotron trajectories. As a result, successfully completing a divergent cusped-field thruster simulation with the full magnetic field strength has yet to be accomplished. As an intermediate step, simulation results of a divergent cusped-field thruster with the magnetic field at 1/5 the actual value are presented, including performance parameters and internal plasma structure details. Evidence suggests that even at 1/5 the magnetic field strength, ions are fully magnetized within certain regions of the divergent cusped-field thruster. This has strong implications concerning the basic operating principles of the thruster because the Hall effect does not result in a net flow of current in regions where ions are fully magnetized. Further modifications that may lead to successful simulations of divergent cusped-field thrusters at full magnetic field strength are also outlined, which may allow for more detailed studies of the plasma structure and performance of the cusped-field thruster."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["S.M."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Fully kinetic modeling of a divergent cusped-field thruster"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Manuel Martinez-Sanchez."],"dc:contributor.department":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics."],"dc:contributor.other":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 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As a result, successfully completing a divergent cusped-field thruster simulation with the full magnetic field strength has yet to be accomplished. As an intermediate step, simulation results of a divergent cusped-field thruster with the magnetic field at 1/5 the actual value are presented, including performance parameters and internal plasma structure details. Evidence suggests that even at 1/5 the magnetic field strength, ions are fully magnetized within certain regions of the divergent cusped-field thruster. This has strong implications concerning the basic operating principles of the thruster because the Hall effect does not result in a net flow of current in regions where ions are fully magnetized. 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