# Characterization of Dispersion Relations

## Motivation

Numerical and experimental tools for plasma dispersion relation studies in plasma propulsion devices are an important resource for researchers investigating thruster physics. The plasma wave modes described by the dispersion relation can affect physical processes such as particle transport or grow into instabilities that disrupt the discharge. For example, the experimentally observed anomalous electron transport in the channel of Hall thrusters might be partly explained by electrostatic plasma waves influencing transport processes. A core aspect of such plasma wave studies involves characterizing the plasma dispersion relation, which requires the development of versatile numerical and experimental tools.

## The Dispersion Relation

The dispersion relation $$\mathcal{D}$$ of a plasma is a function which satisfies the condition $\mathcal{D}(\omega, \mathbf{k}; p_1, p_2, \dots ) = 0,$ where $$\omega$$ is the wave frequency, $$\mathbf{k}$$ is the wavenumber vector, and the $$p_i$$ are plasma parameters such as electron density or background magnetic field. The exact functional form of $$\mathcal{D}$$ depends on the particular plasma model and governing equations from which it is derived. The plasma wave modes that may arise in a discharge are described by the complex zeros of $$\mathcal{D}$$, expressed as functions of the form $$\omega = \omega(\mathbf{k}; p_1, p_2, \dots)$$ derived by solving the above equation. For example, the perturbative analysis for high-frequency electrostatic wave solutions to the governing equations of a warm unmagnetized plasma leads to the dispersion relation for warm Langmuir waves $\omega^2 - \omega_{p,\text{e}}^2 - 3k^2v_{t, \text{e}}^2 = 0,$ where $$\omega_{p,\text{e}}$$ is the electron plasma frequency (which is a function of electron density) and $$v_{t,\text{e}}$$ is the electron thermal velocity (which is a function of electron temperature). While this dispersion relation has a simple analytical expression for $$\omega(k)$$, the zeros of more general dispersion relations cannot be solved in closed form due to the mathematical complexity of $$\mathcal{D}$$. Characterizing the dispersion relation and resulting plasma wave modes in these cases requires more robust techniques.

## Plasma Rocket Instability Characterizer

We developed the Plasma Rocket Instability Characterizer (PRINCE), a prototype software tool that numerically solves for the zeros of a user-specified $$\mathcal{D}$$ using geometry and plasma parameter data input through a graphical interface (Figures 1 and 2). PRINCE autonomously locates and tracks the zeros of the dispersion relation chosen by the user by applying numerical algorithms based on Cauchy's Argument Principle and Newton-Raphson's method. Information about the instabilities found is presented through various data visualization options.

PRINCE finds the zeros (green dots) of $$\mathcal{D}$$ using a root-finding algorithm which applies Cauchy's Argument Principle on grid cells (blue) in the complex plane. If multiple zeros are contained in a cell, a recursive application of the algorithm to subdivided cells resolves the zeros (Figure 3). A separate root-tracking algorithm characterizes the zeros as functions of $$\omega$$ or $$\mathbf{k}$$. See this paper for full details.

The first implementation of PRINCE is in Wolfram Research's Mathematica, a proprietary platform, which limits possible users of the software. A more open source and multi-platform version in C++ is under development as part of José María Rico Chinchilla's (COS '18) independent work project.

## Active Wave Injection Diagnostic

To complement PRINCE's numerical capabilities, we are developing an experimental diagnostic which measures the dispersion relation of a plasma by actively injecting plasma waves into the discharge and recording the plasma's dielectric response. In contrast to passive probing, the active wave injection methodology gives higher signal-to-noise ratios and the ability to tailor the harmonic content of the input signal. As shown in Figure 4, an emitter probe ($$E$$) injects a wave which travels downstream to receiver probes ($$R_1$$, $$R_2$$) which take time-resolved ion saturation current traces ($$I_1$$, $$I_2$$). Spectral analysis of these fluctuating currents, which correspond to plasma density compressions and rarefactions induced by the plasma waves, yields the plasma dispersion relation measurement.

Current experimental work aims to validate both PRINCE's numerical results and the diagnostic's experimental results with dispersion relation measurements taken with a laser induced fluorescence (LIF) system schematically depicted in Figure 5. The measurements will be performed in a 13.56 MHz RF magnetized argon plasma discharge generated in a quartz vacuum vessel shown in Figure 6.

## Contact

Sebastián Rojas Mata