Numerical Investigation of Plasma Acceleration and Wave-Driven Transport in a Magnetic Nozzle

Abstract

Plasma particle simulations were conducted using a three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation with a Monte Carlo collision method (PIC/MCC) to investigate instabilities that could cause cross-field electron transport in a magnetic nozzle. The plasma was located upstream of the divergent magnetic field, in order to reduce the computational cost while effectively reproducing the acceleration process in the magnetic nozzle. The simulation results were qualitatively consistent with experimental observations, showing that plasma instabilities develop in the downstream region. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that low-frequency waves contributed to the inward transport of electrons, leading to electron detachment from the magnetic nozzle.