Effect of the cation-to-anion mass ratio of ionic liquid on plume neutralization characteristics for novel electrospray thruster

Abstract The ionic liquid electrospray thruster (ILET), a promising technology for space electric propulsion, has been gaining attention due to its theoretical capability to operate without an external neutralizer, which is a key component for traditional ion thrusters. Some experiments have shown that cation-to-anion mass ratio significantly affects the self-neutralization of thruster plumes, but further depth research is still needed. Therefore, numerical simulations of ion emission process both in uni-thruster and bi-thruster modes of ILETs are conducted using particle-in-cell method, to investigate the effect of the cation-to-anion mass ratio in ionic liquid on plume neutralization characteristics. In bi-thruster mode, the anions and cations are emitted simultaneously, while in uni-thruster mode, only anions or cations are emitted under the action of electric field force. Plume neutralization characteristics of four ionic liquid propellants, with different cation-to-anion mass ratio, in bi-thruster mode are obtained and compared to the uni-thruster mode. The results show that the plume profile morphology is significantly dependent on operating mode of the thruster and the cation-to-anion mass ratio of ionic liquid. Unlike the circular profile in uni-thruster mode, the plume in bi-thruster mode exhibit distortion with vertical stratification. The contours of the high-potential region in bi-thruster mode also distort, showing stratification and a V-shape, respectively, influenced by the mass ratio. Ion beam neutralization in bi-thruster mode is primarily achieved through the horizontal displacement of anion and cation beams, as well as their interactions. The cation-to-anion mass ratio influences the oscillation effects of the mass center in anion and cation clouds during neutralization, which in turn affects the neutralization effect. Ionic liquids with a significant mass ratio difference between cations and anions necessitate a longer time and greater distance for neutralization under identical conditions. These findings are instrumental for understanding the plume neutralization process and advancing the design of ILETs.