An electromagnetic modelling tool for radio frequency interference caused by plasma plumes

Electric propulsion is a commercially attractive solution for attitude and position control of geostationary satellites. Hall-effect ions thrusters generate a localized plasma flow in the surrounding of the satellite, whose impact on the communication system needs to be qualitatively and quantitatively assessed. An electromagnetic modelling tool was developed and integrated into a commercial numerical solver. The plasma plume was modelled as a time-varying low density non-homogeneous dielectric. The geometrical optics (GO) approximation was used to study the propagation through the plume. Equivalent currents were computed on a surface around the plasma plume (Huygens principle) and made radiate to get the scattered field (“aperture integration”). Measurements were performed on two Hall-effect and one HEMP thrusters in a vacuum facility to validate the modelling tool. The test data of the HET PPS-1350 manufactured by Snecma are reported.