A new article, “Non-Maxwellian electron effects on the macroscopic response of a Hall thruster discharge from an axial–radial kinetic model”, published on Plasma Sources Science and Technology is co-authored by Enrique Bello Benitez, member of the ZARATHUSTRA team.

In this publication, a 2D axial-radial particle-in-cell model of the Hall thruster discharge to analyze the electron response is developped. Their low collisionality and strong interaction with the walls lead to a non-Maxwellian velocity distribution function. Consequently, the macroscopic response differs from conventional fluid formulations. We identified the main differences in the pressure tensor and heat flux vector. Additionally, wall interaction magnitudes significantly deviate from classical sheath theory. These effects behave differently in the near-anode and near-exit regions.

You can access the paper here.