Research on Methods for Suppressing Low-Frequency Oscillations in the Hall Thruster Discharge Channel

Plasma discharge within the Hall thruster channel represents a complex and self-consistent physical process. Working fluid atoms within the channel undergo continuous collisions, leading to ionization and causing periodic variations in the ionization region, accompanied by oscillations in plasma number density. Consequently, low-frequency oscillations take place in the discharge current. This work establishes a onedimensional fluid physics model to characterize different physical aspects of the Hall thruster discharge channel and the plume region. Assuming quasi-neutrality conditions within the discharge channel, the model incorporates considerations such as electron-neutral gas collisions, electron anomalous conduction, the impact of electron-wall collision frequency on conductivity. The study explores the effects of various factors including plasma parameters, magnetic field configuration, discharge voltage, xenon atom velocity, pre-ionization rate, channel structure, and wall secondary electron emission on the amplitude and frequency of discharge current oscillations. The investigation aims to understand the mechanisms behind the low-frequency oscillations in the discharge current of the thruster channel and proposes methods for their suppression. This research provides valuable data for achieving stable discharge in thrusters.