An electron-cyclotron resonance thruster (ECRT) prototype is simulated numerically, using two coupled models: a hybrid particle-in-cell/fluid model for the integration of the plasma transport and a frequency-domain full-wave finite-element model for the computation of the fast electromagnetic (EM) fields. The quasi-stationary plasma response, fast EM fields, power deposition, particle and energy fluxes to the walls, and thruster performance figures at the nominal operating point are discussed, showing good agreement with the available experimental data. The ECRT plasma discharge contains multiple EM field propagation/evanescence regimes that depend on the plasma density and applied magnetic field that determine the flow and absorption of power in the device. The power absorption is found to be mainly driven by radial fast electric fields at the electron-cyclotron resonance region, and specifically close to the inner rod. Large cross-field electron temperature gradients are observed, with maxima close to the inner rod. This, in turn, results in large localized particle and energy fluxes to this component.

使用两个耦合模型对电子回旋共振推进器 (ECRT) 原型进行数值模拟：用于等离子体传输集成的混合粒子细胞/流体模型和用于集成等离子体传输的频域全波有限元模型。快速电磁 (EM) 场的计算。讨论了准稳态等离子体响应、快速电磁场、功率沉积、到壁的粒子和能量通量以及标称工作点的推进器性能数据，显示出与可用实验数据的良好一致性。ECRT 等离子体放电包含多个 EM 场传播/消散机制，这些机制取决于等离子体密度和施加的磁场，这些磁场决定了设备中功率的流动和吸收。发现功率吸收主要由电子回旋共振区的径向快电场驱动，特别是靠近内杆。观察到大的交叉场电子温度梯度，最大值靠近内杆。反过来，这会导致大量局部粒子和能量流向该组件。