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A Phenomenological Framework for Anomalous Electron Transport in Hall Effect Thrusters: Bridging Bohm Diffusion, Near-Wall Conductivity, and Plasma-Wall Transition Layers
1  Bharath institute of science and technology, Tamil Nadu 600017, India
2  Agnikul cosmos, Tamil Nadu 600113, India
Academic Editor: Stephen Whitmore

Abstract:

Hall effect thrusters (HETs) exhibit electron cross-field mobility 10–100 times above classical predictions, yet no single mechanism consistently explains performance across the 1–100 kW range. This work presents a fully predictive, parameter-free phenomenological transport model that unifies three dominant anomalous channels into a single effective collision frequency:

ν_eff = α_B/(16B) + ν_NWC + ν_trans

The Bohm term employs a theoretically derived α_B ≈ 1/32 arising from quasi-linear saturation of azimuthal E×B drift waves damped by ion-sound waves in the near-plume, eliminating empirical 1/16–1/100 fudge factors. Near-wall conductivity ν_NWC is computed self-consistently using velvet-regime secondary electron emission yields (γ_SEE ≈ 0.55 at 150–300 eV for BN) and exact channel geometry. The novel plasma-wall transition term ν_trans accounts for pre-sheath expansion via a generalized Boltzmann relation incorporating κ-distributed non-Maxwellian tails (κ ≈ 5–8), which naturally limits axial conductivity when the Debye length approaches channel half-width.

The resulting closed-form mobility reproduces the breathing-mode frequency (within 8%), discharge current oscillations (amplitude and shape), and thrust efficiency of the SPT-100 (1.35 kW), NASA-300M (9 kW), and nested-channel X3 (up to 102 kW) with errors below 3% across three orders of discharge power. Most importantly, the model predicts—without adjustment—the observed abrupt efficiency collapse above 70 % channel utilization in high-power nested designs, directly linking it to pre-sheath choking of NWC. This framework delivers transparent scaling laws and design guidelines for next-generation >50 kW HETs required for lunar gateways and Mars cargo missions.

Keywords: Hall effect thruster ;Anomalous electron transport ;Bohm diffusion; Near-wall conductivity ;Secondary electron emission ;Pre-sheath choking ;High-power scaling ;Nested-channel thruster ;Breathing mode ;Electric propulsion;Velvet regime;Non-Maxwellian elec

 
 
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