Cathode emitted current

SPIS
1

Hi,
I’m trying to simulate Spacecraft charging due to EP.

However, after a few simulation steps the net emitted current from the cathode tends to zero as well as the cathode current (since the recollected current is null).
This leads to a total current to the spacecraft equal in magnitude to the thruster emitted current, and to a potential of some nodes that reach the kV level.
How can I solve this problem?

Also, I noticed that the cathode net emitted current tends to zero when the emitted particles reach the boundary. Can this be related?
Thanks,

Davide

2

Hello Davide,
could you provide some details about the kind of simulation? Is your thruster aboard a spacecraft or in a test chamber, what kind of cathode electron distribution and the boundary conditions?
Regards,
Sébastien