抄録
Activity on numerical plasma simulations by JAXA’s Engineering Digital Innovation (JEDI) Center is overviewed. Currently, R&D of two major numerical tools is conducted. First one is spacecraft charging analysis tool that can compute charging status of a spacecraft solving charged particle motions precisely. Using this information, we can evaluate onboard measurement of electrostatic probes or consider better configuration of onboard equipment of a spacecraft. Computation example of the interactions between solar wind plasma and a solar sail is shown in this paper. Second one is a numerical tool called JIEDI (JAXA’s Ion Engine Development Initiative), which aims to reduce the cost and the time required for an ion thruster life test. The JIEDI tool can numerically estimate ion bombardment to an ion thruster’s grid material to predict the erosion rate of the grid material, and preliminary analysis by the JIEDI tool showed good agreement with the real-time life test of a microwave ion thruster.
