Monte Carlo simulation for electron Near Wall Conductivity in Hall Thrusters

Near Wall Conductivity (NWC) is one of fundamental physical phenomena in the channel of Hall Thrusters. It has great influence on the performance parameters of Hall thruster. A Monte Carlo model on NWC is put forward in the paper. The electron is considered as test particle in the model and its initial velocity can be decided by a specific distribution function. Then electron current density due to NWC can be statistically obtained with the simulation results of a large number of electrons. Based on the Monte Carlo model, the relation between electrical field, magnetic field and electron current density due to NWC is calculated. The simulation result is well accordance with the experiment, which proves that the Monte Carlo model on NWC is valid. The Monte Carlo model on NWC provides a useful way to simulate the effect of some complicated factors lying in the real channel of Hall thruster on the electron current due to NWC. Therefore, some important physical phenomena in Hall thruster, such as sheath, channel wall material and shape, electron distribution function, magnetic field topology, have been briefly discussed in the end and the way considering these factors in Monte Carlo model is also presented. It makes possible to research the NWC phenomenon in detail.