RT Journal Article ID 499cd0f63b637984 A1 Li, M. A1 Liu, H. A1 Ning, Z. A1 Ren, J. A1 Tang, H. A1 Yu, D. A1 Eliseev, Stepan I. A1 Kudryavtsev, Anatoly A. T1 DESIGN OPTIMIZATION OF A MAGNETOPLASMADYNAMIC THRUSTER BY NUMERICAL METHODS JF High Temperature Material Processes: An International Quarterly of High-Technology Plasma Processes JO HTM YR 2014 FD 2015-11-20 VO 18 IS 1-2 SP 83 OP 90 K1 plasma propulsion K1 MPD thruster K1 arc discharges K1 plasma simulations AB In this work a 2D model for simulating an applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic (AF-MPD) thruster with a hollow cathode made of thoriated tungsten was constructed using Comsol Multiphysics. The model allowed for self-consistent description of plasma processes inside an ionization chamber in the thruster and heating of the cathode due to ion bombardment. The distribution of such discharge parameters as charged and excited particle densities, charged particles' mean energies and temperatures, gas temperature, cathode temperature, and electric potential were obtained. Numerical experiments were carried out for different geometries and optimal configuration of AFMPD thruster with a hollow cathode was obtained. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/57d172397126f956,4f8b30266070dbed,499cd0f63b637984.html