CAREER: Electron Fluid Dynamics in a Hall-effect Accelerator: Using Fundamental Research to Enhance Education and Technology

摘要霍尔效应加速器(HEA)是一种利用交叉电场(E)和磁场(B)喷射低密度电离气体的等离子体流体装置。HEA主要用于两个应用：(1)用作航天器的高效等离子体推进器；(2)用作材料加工的宽束无栅离子源。从历史上看，HEA中的电子迁移率比经典等离子体理论预测的要大1000倍，但对这种差异缺乏解释。这个项目的假设是，被广泛接受的关于HEA中电子运动的观点是根本有缺陷的，对这种缺陷的认识可能会揭示迁移率异常。PI已经进行了一套详尽的基本电子流体动力学实验，将在一种新型的电子-等离子体捕获设备中进行，目的是了解类似HEA的场配置中的流体运动和跨场迁移率。该计划通过与俄罗斯和美国合作伙伴的合作，为研究生培养成为国际科学领导者的职业生涯：两名研究生将在莫斯科与俄罗斯合作伙伴TsNIIMASH进行为期一个月的研究，并将在行业合作伙伴AeroJet-General Corporation的雷蒙德研究设施中花费一个月开发改进的HEA设备。这个项目有很高的潜力产生广泛的影响。成功阐明在HEAs中观察到的异常电子迁移率可能在从材料加工到航天器推进的技术领域以及在受控核聚变等新应用中具有重要意义。该计划还提供了一系列的教育贡献；它包括研究生监督本科生，本科生反过来监督高中生。让参与者担任监督角色，本质上会让他们对研究有更深的理解，同时激发他们的课堂学习。这一机制使教育团体能够在分层的学习环境中最广泛地参与，并可以影响许多学生。这项拟议的研究将通过在当地、国家和国际场所举行会议和传播成果，在俄罗斯的合作者、美国的行业、大学和高中工作人员以及更大的专业社区之间建立长期的合作伙伴关系。

AbstractHall-effect accelerators (HEA's) are plasma fluid devices that utilize crossed electric (E) and magnetic (B) fields to eject a low-density ionized gas. HEA's are used primarily in two applications: (1) as highly efficient plasma thrusters for spacecraft and, (2) as broad-beam gridless ion sources for material processing. Historically, electron mobility in HEA's has been shown to be 1,000 times greater than predicted by classical plasma theory, yet an explanation for this discrepancy is absent. It is the hypothesis of this project that the widely accepted view of electron motion in an HEA is fundamentally flawed, and that recognition of this flaw may shed light on the mobility anomaly. The PI has undertaken an exhaustive set of fundamental electron fluid dynamics experiments to be conducted in a novel electron-plasma trapping apparatus with the goal of understanding the fluid motion and cross-field mobility in HEA-like field configurations.The program is training graduate students for careers as international science leaders through collaboration with Russian and US partners: two graduate students will spend one-month in Moscow performing research with Russian collaborating partner TsNIIMASH, and will spend one-month at the Redmond, WA, research facilities of industry collaborator Aerojet-General Corporation developing an improved HEA device. This project has a high potential for broad impact. Successful elucidation of the observed anomalous electron mobility in HEAs could have significance in technological areas ranging from materials processing to spacecraft propulsion and in new applications, such as controlled nuclear fusion. The program also provides a range of educational contributions; it involves graduate students supervising undergraduate students, who in turn supervise high-school students. Placing participants in supervisory roles intrinsically draws them into a deeper understanding of the research, while motivating their in-class studies. This mechanism enables the broadest participation of educational groups in a hierarchical learning environment and can affect many students. The research proposed will form long-lasting partnerships between collaborators in Russia, US industry, university and high-school staff, and the larger professional community through conferences and dissemination of results at local, national, and international venues.