2-D Parameter Studies of Ion/Electron Current Coupling in Particle in Cell Simulations

Summary form only given. Ready neutralization of ion beams by a source of electrons is a well known phenomenon, but the physics behind that process is not well understood. As electric propulsion devices move into the micro and macro regimes with colloids, FEEPs, and large arrays of thrusters, the interactions between the neutralizer and the thruster are under examination. A series of 2D particle-in-cell simulations are presented examining the simulated response of an ion-beam/electron source system. Effects of numerical and physical parameters are explored and compared to the results of a first-order kinetic theory to explain the results. While the 2-D simulations show some evidence of current coupling, it is much less than what a first-order approximation might suggest. The effects of the numerical nature of the simulation are taken into consideration and shown to be of only minor importance in most cases, with the resolution of the system being the most important parameter