Full Helicon thruster modeling

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive modeling approach for a new helicon plasma thruster, combining global design, electromagnetic, and particle-in-cell simulations to optimize performance for space cargo missions.

Contribution

It introduces an integrated simulation framework for designing and testing a novel helicon thruster, advancing the development process from conceptual modeling to performance estimation.

Findings

Feasibility of operational RF power confirmed

Achieved thruster performance: 1 kW power, 10 mN thrust, >1000 s specific impulse

Simulation results guide future optimization and prototype development

Abstract

This research work is part of a PhD project aiming to design a new helicon plasma thruster for cargo space missions, within a collaboration between the School of Aerospace Engineering of La Sapienza University and the ENEA Frascati research center. A 0-D global design model of the thruster is first established to identify the main operational conditions of the thruster, starting from a targeted performance in terms of specific impulse and thrust. These operational conditions are tested with dedicated simulations on the electromagnetic plasma-wave interaction within the ionization chamber, and on the electrostatic plasma acceleration within the magnetic nozzle. The former are carried out with a finite element electromagnetic code and confirm the technical feasibility of the identified operational RF power with a predefined chamber geometry. The latter are obtained with an electrostatic particle-in-cell code, which allows to estimate more precisely the achieved thruster performance. A sub-optimal thruster with an absorbed plasma power of around 1 kW, a thrust of around 10 mN and a specific impulse higher than 1000 s is successfully simulated. The established simulation framework will serve as the basis for the next optimization of the thruster geometry and operational conditions, with the ultimate goal of building and testing a new helicon thruster prototype.