Stable transport of relativistic electron beams in plasmas

Yao, Hai-Bo; Yang, X. H.; Zhang, G.B.; Ma, Yunlong; Wang, S.W.; Xu, Han; Cui, Yun; Mai, Zi; Ma, Zhiming; Jiang, Lincun

doi:10.1017/s002237782100132x

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…High‐energy electron beams are better adapted to suppress the transverse expansion because of their own space charge effect and generate a smaller proportion of energy loss when propagating in the ionosphere due to their smaller collision cross section with background particles (Marshall & Bortnik, 2018). These factors make relativistic electron beams a better option for long‐range propagation missions of several hundred kilometers (Hao, Wang, et al., 2021, Hao et al., 2022; B. X. Xue et al., 2020, 2021; Yao et al., 2022). Diagnostics of the electron beam are also important aspects of electron beam sounding experiments (Clilverd, et al., 2017; Delzanno et al., 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fast Spacecraft Charging Mitigation With Plasma Contactors During High‐Power Electron Beam Emission in the GEO Environment

Xue,

Zhang,

Zhao

et al. 2023

JGR Space Physics

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The emission of artificial electron beams causes an active spacecraft charging effect that poses challenges for electron beam sounding experiments. Plasma contactors have been suggested as a potential solution to this issue based on theoretical and simulation studies, but the impact of these contactors on spacecraft potentials in complex space environments remains unexplored. This paper investigates the fast active charging effect of spacecraft under the action of plasma contactors in the geostationary Earth orbit environment by using a two‐dimensional Particle‐in‐Cell model. We analyze and compare the effects of the “ion emission” process of the plasma contactor and the “electron collection” process of the background plasma on the spacecraft potential at different beam and environment parameters, as well as the coupling effects when both processes occur simultaneously. Our findings indicate that the “ion emission” and “electron collection” processes are the primary factors in determining the spacecraft potential in relatively thin and dense plasma environments, respectively. When the two processes occur together, the contactor plasma cloud increases the “electron collection” return current by expanding the range of the positive potential area around the spacecraft, while the dense background plasma mediates and provides the return current to ensure that the plasma contactor can effectively suppress the active charging effect even after the ion sheath is present. These results suggest that a reasonable adjustment of the contactor parameters based on the relationship between the electron beam and the background environment can effectively extend the normal emission time of the electron beam.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These factors make relativistic electron beams a better option for long-range propagation missions of several hundred kilometers (Hao, Wang, et al, 2021B. X. Xue et al, 2020Yao et al, 2022). Diagnostics of the electron beam are also important aspects of electron beam sounding experiments (Clilverd, et al, 2017;Delzanno et al, 2016).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fast Spacecraft Charging Mitigation With Plasma Contactors During High‐Power Electron Beam Emission in the GEO Environment

Xue,

Zhang,

Zhao

et al. 2023

JGR Space Physics

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“…The efficiency of electron beam propagation may be reduced by all the physical mechanisms mentioned above. Different viewpoints on the long-range propagation of electron beams in the atmosphere have been reviewed [19][20][21], and a theoretical approach to increase the efficiency of long-range propagation utilizing the same direction geomagnetic field and ion focused region has also been investigated [22][23][24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fast spacecraft charging induced by a high-power electron beam emission and its mitigation through a plasma contactor

Xue,

Zhao,

Zhang

et al. 2023

J. Inst.

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Active sounding experiments, including tracing magnetic field lines and magnetospheric sounding, may be accomplished in the GEO environment by the active emission of high-power electron beams. The continual emission of electron beam pulses during such experiments may result in the accumulation of positive charges on the spacecraft surface and a rise in the spacecraft potential, which might prohibit the normal emission of succeeding pulses. The plasma contactor has been shown to be a reliable method for neutralizing the spacecraft potential. But as the active charging effect brought on by the high-current electron beam manifests itself more quickly, it is still unknown whether the plasma contactor can reliably control the spacecraft potential in this circumstance. In this study, a two-dimensional PIC model is used to examine the active charging effect brought on by high-power electron beam emission. Findings indicate that the potential neutralization process may be affected by the ion sheath that forms close to the emitting surface of the plasma contactor, which cuts the electrical connection between the spacecraft and plasma in space. By evaluating the quantities and growth speeds of different particles during active charging, we discover that lowering the particle density or pre-emission time of the plasma contactor may bring the spacecraft potential to the equilibrium state. Additionally, the high-current electron beam raises the peak potential, making it more difficult to launch the electron beam properly before the spacecraft potential reaches equilibrium. In contrast, the high-energy electron beam is less susceptible to the active charging effect.

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Stable transport of relativistic electron beams in plasmas

Cited by 2 publications

References 30 publications

Fast Spacecraft Charging Mitigation With Plasma Contactors During High‐Power Electron Beam Emission in the GEO Environment

Fast Spacecraft Charging Mitigation With Plasma Contactors During High‐Power Electron Beam Emission in the GEO Environment

Fast spacecraft charging induced by a high-power electron beam emission and its mitigation through a plasma contactor

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