Abstract Ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) is pivotal in magnetoplasma propulsion thruster, involving complex interactions between radio frequency (RF) waves and plasma. To tackle these complexities, we utilized an advanced electromagnetic particle-in-cell (PIC) method coupled with a Monte Carlo collision (MCC) model to explore particle dynamics within large-scale domains (~1 m) and intense magnetic confinement (~1.8 T). The effects of working fluid properties, mesh resolution, input RF current intensity, and RF frequency on ICRH were studied. Notably, for hydrogen ions, fluctuating velocities were observed, leading to a pinch effect on cyclotron kinetic energy, which was likely due to MCC influences and particles nearing the resonance line. Argon ions, being heavier, exhibited significantly larger cyclotron radii, resulting in higher energy absorption as they traversed intense magnetic fields. Findings indicated that input current dominantly affected heating efficiency. Adequate axial and radial mesh resolutions were crucial for accurately modeling ICRH processes. Additionally, RF frequency configuration substantially influenced the ICRH stage. Statistical characteristics for multiple super-particles were also investigated; the cyclotron energy spanned 0–20.3 eV, while the axial energy exhibited a broader range of 0–33 eV, with a more closed Maxwellian distribution. The spatiotemporal anisotropy in particle trajectories stemmed from synergistic effects between electric and magnetic field gradients, underscoring the critical role of magnetic gradients in thrust modulation for plasma propulsion systems.
Zhao et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
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