TY - JOUR U1 - Zeitschriftenartikel, wissenschaftlich - begutachtet (reviewed) A1 - Matthias, Paul A1 - Kahnfeld, Daniel A1 - Kemnitz, Stefan A1 - Duras, Julia A1 - Koch, Norbert A1 - Schneider, Ralf T1 - Similarity scaling‐application and limits for high‐efficiency‐multistage‐plasma‐thruster particle‐in‐cell modelling JF - Contributions to Plasma Physics N2 - Abstract To suit a wide variety of space mission profiles, different designs of ion thrusters were developed, such as the High‐Efficiency‐Multistage‐Plasma thrusters (HEMP‐T). In the past, the optimization of ion thrusters was a difficult and time‐consuming process and evolved experimentally. Because the construction of new designs is expensive, cheaper methods for optimization were sought‐after. Computer‐based simulations are a cheap and useful method towards predictive modelling. The physics in HEMP‐T requires a kinetic model. The Particle‐in‐Cell (PIC) method delivers self‐consistent solutions for the plasmas of ion thrusters, but it is limited by the high amount of computing time required to study a specific system. Therefore, it is not suited to explore a wide operational and design space. An approach to decrease computing time is self‐similarity scaling schemes, which can be derived from the kinetic equations. One specific self‐similarity scheme is investigated quantitatively in this work for selected HEMP‐Ts, using PIC simulations. The possible application of the scaling is explained and the limits of this approach are derived. KW - - KW - electric propulsion KW - low‐temperature plasma KW - similarity laws KW - simulation Y1 - 2020 UN - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:gbv:9-opus-40854 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/ctpp.201900199 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/ctpp.201900199 VL - 60 IS - 7 PB - WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA CY - Weinheim ER -