Time-Resolved Wall Ion Flux Linked to Discharge Current Oscillations in an SPT-100-Type Electric Thruster

Burak Karadag

doi:10.35377/saucis...1855214

Time-Resolved Wall Ion Flux Linked to Discharge Current Oscillations in an SPT-100-Type Electric Thruster

Abstract

An SPT-100-type electric thruster is simulated at nominal operating conditions using a two-dimensional, axisymmetric, fully kinetic particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision (PIC/MCC) plasma model. The model reproduces PIVOINE facility measurements, predicting a thrust and discharge current of 77.2 mN and 4.30 A versus 80.0 mN and 4.15 A measured, with thrust efficiency and specific impulse of 42.4% and 1575 s versus 45.0% and 1490 s. The power spectral density of the discharge current waveform reveals a dominant breathing-mode oscillation peak at 19.5 kHz and a secondary feature near 107 kHz. Time-resolved ion flux to the inner and outer radial walls exhibits quasi-periodic modulation and intermittent near-exit enhancements, demonstrating that instantaneous erosion drivers vary substantially over the oscillation cycle. Cross-correlation of the breathing-band (15–25 kHz) components indicates that the wall ion flux lags the discharge current by approximately 63° (≈ 9 µs, ≈ 18% of a breathing period), suggesting a delayed near-wall response associated with motion and reshaping of the ionisation/acceleration region and the near-exit sheath/field structure rather than ballistic ion time-of-flight. These results provide a phase-resolved pathway for connecting breathing-mode oscillations to wall ion bombardment in SPT-class Hall-effect thrusters.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Computing Applications in Physical Sciences

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Burak Karadag ^*
0000-0001-8510-9715
United Kingdom

Early Pub Date

March 27, 2026

Publication Date

March 27, 2026

Submission Date

January 3, 2026

Acceptance Date

February 3, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.35377/saucis...1855214

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA77GF47MF

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Karadag, B. (2026). Time-Resolved Wall Ion Flux Linked to Discharge Current Oscillations in an SPT-100-Type Electric Thruster. Sakarya University Journal of Computer and Information Sciences, 9(1), 233-242. https://doi.org/10.35377/saucis...1855214

AMA

1.Karadag B. Time-Resolved Wall Ion Flux Linked to Discharge Current Oscillations in an SPT-100-Type Electric Thruster. SAUCIS. 2026;9(1):233-242. doi:10.35377/saucis.1855214

Chicago

Karadag, Burak. 2026. “Time-Resolved Wall Ion Flux Linked to Discharge Current Oscillations in an SPT-100-Type Electric Thruster”. Sakarya University Journal of Computer and Information Sciences 9 (1): 233-42. https://doi.org/10.35377/saucis. 1855214.

EndNote

Karadag B (March 1, 2026) Time-Resolved Wall Ion Flux Linked to Discharge Current Oscillations in an SPT-100-Type Electric Thruster. Sakarya University Journal of Computer and Information Sciences 9 1 233–242.

IEEE

[1]B. Karadag, “Time-Resolved Wall Ion Flux Linked to Discharge Current Oscillations in an SPT-100-Type Electric Thruster”, SAUCIS, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 233–242, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.35377/saucis...1855214.

ISNAD

Karadag, Burak. “Time-Resolved Wall Ion Flux Linked to Discharge Current Oscillations in an SPT-100-Type Electric Thruster”. Sakarya University Journal of Computer and Information Sciences 9/1 (March 1, 2026): 233-242. https://doi.org/10.35377/saucis. 1855214.

JAMA

1.Karadag B. Time-Resolved Wall Ion Flux Linked to Discharge Current Oscillations in an SPT-100-Type Electric Thruster. SAUCIS. 2026;9:233–242.

MLA

Karadag, Burak. “Time-Resolved Wall Ion Flux Linked to Discharge Current Oscillations in an SPT-100-Type Electric Thruster”. Sakarya University Journal of Computer and Information Sciences, vol. 9, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 233-42, doi:10.35377/saucis. 1855214.

Vancouver

1.Burak Karadag. Time-Resolved Wall Ion Flux Linked to Discharge Current Oscillations in an SPT-100-Type Electric Thruster. SAUCIS. 2026 Mar. 1;9(1):233-42. doi:10.35377/saucis. 1855214