American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Journal of Propulsion and Power, 4(17), p. 772-779, 2001
DOI: 10.2514/2.5832
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A quasi-neutral one-dimensional hybrid model of a stationary plasma thruster has been used tu predict the performance of a laboratory model thruster tested in the Propulsion Ionique pour Vols Orbitaux, Interpretation et Nouvelles Experiences, facility. In this model ions are treated as particles and electrons as a fluid and quasi neutrality is assumed. We describe the calculated efficiencies, thrust, and specific impulse using xenon and krypton as propellant and their variations as a function of applied voltage and mass Row rate, Typically, for a voltage of 350 V and an anode mass Row rate of 5 mg/s, the thrust is on the order of 75 mN fur xenon and krypton, and the global efficiency is 40 and 30%, respectively, for xenon and krypton, Although the model is rather simple, the predicted trends are in reasonable agreement with the experimental measurements, The question of doubly charged ions is also examined, and results show that they do not strongly contribute to performance in a stationary plasma thruster-100 Hall thruster.