Project description
Active control of anomalous transport yields ultra-efficient space plasma thrusters
As space exploration missions become increasingly more complex and distant, innovative propulsion technologies are required. Electrodeless plasma thrusters could be a solution but non-linear turbulence and oscillations arising from plasma instabilities are a key challenge. Amplified by the strong magnetic fields required to heat the plasma, these oscillations and turbulence lead to cross-field anomalous transport that limits thruster performance and durability. The ERC-funded ROCINANTE project aims to characterise the non-linearly oscillating structures and turbulence, supporting the design of an open-loop active control system and ultra-efficient plasma thrusters. Success will rely on cutting-edge experimental and computational methods including a new 2D+ time-implicit particle-in-cell code for unparalleled computational performance.
Objective
Current in-space propulsion technologies are insufficient for the ambitious space missions of the future. Electrodeless plasma thrusters (EPTs) offer a solution to this problem, enabling the use of arbitrary propellants, simplifying device architecture, and facilitating scaling to high powers. Promising performance figures have been recently demonstrated. Nevertheless, EPTs suffer from ‘anomalous transport’ that increases plasma losses to the walls, limiting their efficiency and durability. This is due to plasma instabilities that set up oscillating and turbulent structures nonlinearly, enhanced by the strong electromagnetic fields applied to heat the plasma. However, the exact mechanisms remain unknown and unchecked, preventing the design of truly efficient devices. ROCINANTE aims to unravel and control the causes of anomalous transport in EPTs by accomplishing four objectives: (1) Obtain high-accuracy, high-resolution experimental datasets of the fluctuating spectrum inside and near an EPT source. (2) Establish an unprecedentedly fast and accurate kinetic-electromagnetic plasma model. (3) Elucidate the roots and nature of nonlinear oscillations and turbulence in EPTs, and their effect on the cross-field anomalous transport that limits thruster performance and durability. (4) Assess the observability of the oscillating structures and their open-loop controllability. This will be made possible by a unique methodology consisting of a specifically-designed experiment with novel non-intrusive sensors, a new 2D+ time-implicit particle-in-cell code that exploits the physics of the problem for unsurpassed computational performance, nonlinear data-driven analysis techniques and reduced order models, and the characterization of the system response to periodic forcing actuation. The success of ROCINANTE will unveil the true physics of anomalous transport in EPTs and unlock the development of ultra-efficient plasma thrusters based on active control.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics electromagnetism
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering vehicle engineering aerospace engineering astronautical engineering spacecraft
- natural sciences physical sciences plasma physics
- natural sciences computer and information sciences computational science
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
28903 Getafe (Madrid)
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.