Study on plasma expansion model of primary discharge on spacecraft solar array

Abstract In the space plasma environment, primary discharge may occur on the solar array and evolve into a destructive sustained arc, which threatens the safe operation of the spacecraft. Based on the plasma expansion fluid theory, a new multicomponent plasma expansion model is proposed in this study, which takes into account the effects of ion species, ion number, initial discharge current, and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) plasma environment. The expansion simulation of single-component and multicomponent ions is carried out respectively, and the variations of plasma number density, expansion distance, and speed during the expansion process are obtained. Compared with the experimental results, the evolution of propagation distance and speed is closed and the error is within a reasonable range, which verifies the validity and rationality of the model. The propagation characteristics of the primary discharge on the solar array surface and the influence of the initial value on the maximum propagation distance and the propagation current peaks are investigated. This study can provide important theoretical support for the propagation and evolution of the primary discharge and the key behavior of the transition to secondary discharge on spacecraft solar array.