Effect of Sawtooth Current Waveform on Plasma Dynamics in Electrothermal PPT: A Simulation Approach

Abstract The Increased attention toward pulsed plasma thrusters for satellite propulsion is due to their small size, simplicity, and low power consumption advantage. Electrothermal pulsed plasma thrusters are considered high-thrust engines. This research presents a theoretical study of the influence of the discharge current signal waveform on plasma parameters such as plasma temperature, exit pressure, and exit velocity. Furthermore, it examines the impact on thrusters’ properties, such as the ablated mass from the wall of the capillary tube, besides the thrust, impulse, and specific impulse. The paper was conducted using a sawtooth signal and Teflon capillary to study the effect of fast abruption variation of the plasma parameters. Calculations are obtained using a 1-D time-dependent ETFLOW model, which describes the physical phenomenon of coaxial electrothermal discharge systems. Additionally, the paper includes an axial analysis of some properties, such as the exit pressure, velocity, and the plasma temperature inside the capillary.