Modelling of the propulsion mechanism for a miniaturized corona ionization thruster

Abstract

In this dissertation a recipe has been outlined on how thrust can be calculated using the conservation of momentum in continuum form. With the aim of modelling a CORION (corona ionization) like thruster in mind it was then argued using a much simpler system and stochastic calculus why a statistical description of the system is necessary. From this the one-particle distribution emerged as a natural tool for the description of a system su cient for the determination of the system's thrust.This was followed by a short investigation into the background of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, both classical and quantum, necessary to understand how one-particle distributions could be derived formally and in a physically consistent way. Mass ow and current-voltage experiments of the CORION like thrust system, necessary for characterization of part of the system, were conducted. This led to a proposal for a modelling strategy, consisting of merging di erent modelling approaches and descriptions considered throughout the dissertation.