Electron dynamics of two magnetic nozzle geometries for a vacuum arc thruster

Electron dynamics of two magnetic nozzle geometries for a vacuum arc thruster | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Electron dynamics of two magnetic nozzle geometries for a vacuum arc thruster Ivan Gomez, Karen Aplin, Andrew Lawrie, C.A. Toomer This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9361445/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract In recent years the space industry has shifted from high cost and large satellites to constellations of smaller satellites, motivating research into and use of miniature electric propulsion devices. Vacuum arc thrusters have typically achieved high efficiencies but only at high power levels; here, we re-assess their potential to provide a miniature, high specific impulse, lightweight and low-power alternative to the already existing electric propulsion technologies for small satellites. We combine our vacuum arc thruster with permanent magnets around its nozzle to guide the plasma plume. We perform numerical simulations to evaluate our modified thruster design and find that when fuelled with bismuth in vacuum conditions, the magnetic nozzle increases thrust by 15% and constrains electrons to a narrower downstream cone, which offers potential advantages for spacecraft longevity. Vacuum Arc Thruster Magnetic Nozzle Micropropulsion Particle-in-Cell Simulation Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 12 May, 2026 Reviews received at journal 12 May, 2026 Reviews received at journal 11 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 27 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 21 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 20 Apr, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 20 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 08 Apr, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9361445","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":630525874,"identity":"faec1f94-4c29-429d-951b-22a647e2c653","order_by":0,"name":"Ivan Gomez","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"University of Bristol","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ivan","middleName":"","lastName":"Gomez","suffix":""},{"id":630525876,"identity":"919cd134-ca1b-455a-a437-ebd1f465fc81","order_by":1,"name":"Karen Aplin","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Bristol","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Karen","middleName":"","lastName":"Aplin","suffix":""},{"id":630525879,"identity":"63267e7c-6b4a-4247-9e79-3c6cb8f31cb5","order_by":2,"name":"Andrew Lawrie","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Bristol","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Andrew","middleName":"","lastName":"Lawrie","suffix":""},{"id":630525881,"identity":"b154fe50-012d-4619-9242-3bc008142113","order_by":3,"name":"C.A. 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