A one-dimensional with three-dimensional velocity space hybrid-PIC model of the discharge plasma in a Hall thruster

According to present knowledge, countless numerical simulations of the discharge plasma in Hall thrusters were conducted. However, on the one hand, adequate two-dimensional (2D) models require a lot of time to carry out numerical research of the breathing mode oscillations or the discharge structure. On the other hand, existing one-dimensional (1D) models are usually too simplistic and do not take into consideration such important phenomena as neutral-wall collisions, magnetic field induced by Hall current and double, secondary, and stepwise ionizations together. In this paper a one-dimensional with three-dimensional velocity space (1D3V) hybrid-PIC model is presented. The model is able to incorporate all the phenomena mentioned above. A new method of neutral-wall collisions simulation in described space was developed and validated. Simulation results obtained for KM-88 and KM-60 thrusters are in a good agreement with experimental data. The Bohm collision coefficient was the same for both thrusters. Neutral-wall collisions, doubly charged ions, and induced magnetic field were proved to stabilize the breathing mode oscillations in a Hall thruster under some circumstances. Published by AIP Publishing.