Berlin 2014 – scientific programme

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P: Fachverband Plasmaphysik

P 6: Theory and Modelling

P 6.3: Talk

Monday, March 17, 2014, 17:00–17:15, SPA HS202

PlasmaPIC: 3D plasma simulation tool — •Robert Henrich, Michael Becker, and Christian Heiliger — I. Physikalisches Institut, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen

We present our self developed PlasmaPIC simulation tool, which is a full 3D particle in cell (PIC) simulation tool. PlasmaPIC is well suited for describing inductively coupled plasmas in micro Newton radio frequency ion thrusters. Until a few years ago such a simulation was inconceivably for modeling radio frequency ion thruster (RIT) on the order of a few centimeters due to the enormous computational effort. In our PlasmaPIC simulation tool we reduce the calculation time from months to several hours, by incorporating a very efficient massive parallelization. In addition, our PlasmaPIC simulation tool can handle arbitrary geometries, which can be imported from CAD tools. By using PlamaPIC we are able to determine precisely all plasma parameters in our thruster even with very high temporal and spatial resolution. In contrast, this precise determination cannot be done by measurements, because the plasma parameters cannot appropriately measured in our small thruster without influencing it. Especially, for a better understanding and hence further optimizations of our thruster precise plasma parameters are necessary. For that reason our PlasmaPIC simulation tool is required. With our PlasmaPIC simulation tool we are now on the verge to predict performance parameters for new designs of our thrusters on a microscopic level.