宇宙科学談話会
ISAS Space Science Colloquium & Space Science Seminar
Unraveling plasma physics of spacecraft electric propulsion systems
Dr. Kentaro HARA
Stanford University, Aeronautics and Astronautics
Spacecraft electric propulsion (EP) systems have become an essential tool for space exploration and utilization. Propulsion devices with high thrust, high specific impulse, high efficiency, and long lifetime help enable current and future space missions. Electrical power, typically collected from solar panels, is used to energize and ionize propellant to generate thrust. Despite the success of EP systems, predictive modeling of ionized gases, i.e., plasmas, remains challenging due to the coupling between collisional-radiative processes, plasma-wall interaction, circuit-plasma coupling, and plasma instabilities and turbulence. In this seminar, I will introduce the state-of-the-art EP technologies and the plasma physics problems associated with EP systems. I will then discuss recent advancements in the physics-based and data-driven models, including fluid moment approaches, particle-in-cell Monte Carlo collision models, and data assimilation using extended and ensemble Kalman filters.
Conference Room A (1257) (2nd floor/ New Building A), Via Zoom