Modelling studies of charged particle interactions for a space application

Journal article

An electron emitter neutraliser to prevent spacecraft charging from the use of positive ion thrusters is under development at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. A particle-in-cell code, KARAT, has been used to simulate laboratory experiments, Laboratory test results have been successfully obtained with simulations, for model verification. Neutraliser-ion thruster interactions in space have also been modelled. An ion-propelled spacecraft rapidly charges to kilovolt potentials, which can be dissipated by an electron-emitting neutraliser. The effect of background particle concentrations on neutralisation has also been studied.

Authors: Aplin, K; Tarakanov, V

• Journal: Institute of Physics Conference Series
• Volume: 178
• Pages: 221-226
• Publication date: 2004-01-01
• ISSN: 0951-3248
• Language: English