Near-Wall Pathways of Anomalous Electron Transport in Hall Thrusters Revealed by 3D PIC Simulations
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arXiv
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| _version_ | 1866910054082412544 |
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| author | Liu, Zhe Zhao, Zhongping Zhao, Yinjian |
| author_facet | Liu, Zhe Zhao, Zhongping Zhao, Yinjian |
| contents | Cross-field electron transport in Hall thrusters is widely attributed to high-frequency $E\times B$ instabilities, yet its net spatial pathway remains poorly resolved. Here we perform instability-resolving three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of a Hall thruster using a boundary-faithful and highly integrated framework. The model incorporates a realistic magnetic-field configuration, self-consistent dielectric wall charging, secondary electron emission, Monte Carlo ionization collisions, a self-consistent continuum neutral-gas evolution model, and an open near-plume outflow treatment. From the strongly oscillatory three-dimensional fields, we extract the net instability-driven transport by time and azimuthal averaging of the correlation term $\langle n_e E_y\rangle$ and the corresponding effective perpendicular mobility. The simulations reveal that anomalous electron transport is not distributed uniformly across the channel cross section. Instead, it self-organizes into persistent near-wall pathways connected to the near-exit region. By comparing conducting-wall, ceramic-wall-with-secondary-emission, and open-outflow closures, we show that the near-wall transport topology is robust, while the boundary treatment mainly redistributes the detailed strength of the pathway and its coupling to the exit and near-plume region. These results demonstrate a previously unresolved spatial organization of instability-driven anomalous transport in Hall thrusters and highlight the unique role of 3D PIC simulations in revealing it. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_14849 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Near-Wall Pathways of Anomalous Electron Transport in Hall Thrusters Revealed by 3D PIC Simulations Liu, Zhe Zhao, Zhongping Zhao, Yinjian Plasma Physics Cross-field electron transport in Hall thrusters is widely attributed to high-frequency $E\times B$ instabilities, yet its net spatial pathway remains poorly resolved. Here we perform instability-resolving three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of a Hall thruster using a boundary-faithful and highly integrated framework. The model incorporates a realistic magnetic-field configuration, self-consistent dielectric wall charging, secondary electron emission, Monte Carlo ionization collisions, a self-consistent continuum neutral-gas evolution model, and an open near-plume outflow treatment. From the strongly oscillatory three-dimensional fields, we extract the net instability-driven transport by time and azimuthal averaging of the correlation term $\langle n_e E_y\rangle$ and the corresponding effective perpendicular mobility. The simulations reveal that anomalous electron transport is not distributed uniformly across the channel cross section. Instead, it self-organizes into persistent near-wall pathways connected to the near-exit region. By comparing conducting-wall, ceramic-wall-with-secondary-emission, and open-outflow closures, we show that the near-wall transport topology is robust, while the boundary treatment mainly redistributes the detailed strength of the pathway and its coupling to the exit and near-plume region. These results demonstrate a previously unresolved spatial organization of instability-driven anomalous transport in Hall thrusters and highlight the unique role of 3D PIC simulations in revealing it. |
| title | Near-Wall Pathways of Anomalous Electron Transport in Hall Thrusters Revealed by 3D PIC Simulations |
| topic | Plasma Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.14849 |