Advanced materials for space propulsion: satellites and cubesats. Poorly controlled interactions between plasmas and surfaces often mean loss of process efficiency and surface degradation over time. For Hall thrusters, a type of engine used to move satellites in space, this means increased fuel consumption and shorter useful life. Through modelling and experiment, this project will show how intelligent selection of advanced materials and plasma parameters can minimise surface wear, enable in sit ....Advanced materials for space propulsion: satellites and cubesats. Poorly controlled interactions between plasmas and surfaces often mean loss of process efficiency and surface degradation over time. For Hall thrusters, a type of engine used to move satellites in space, this means increased fuel consumption and shorter useful life. Through modelling and experiment, this project will show how intelligent selection of advanced materials and plasma parameters can minimise surface wear, enable in situ material repair to extend device lifetime, and modulate plasma properties to increase thruster efficiency for a given task. These benefits enable reliable propulsion platforms for massive communication and observation satellite networks and deep space exploration.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102942
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
The general Richtmyer-Meshkov instability in magnetohydrodynamics. Fluid dynamic instabilities limit the chance of inertial confinement fusion, a carbon-free process, achieving net energy production. In highly idealised circumstances it has been shown that one of these instabilities can be suppressed by a magnetic field, a phenomenon that this project will investigate in the general case.
The converging shock driven Richtmyer-Meshkov instability in magnetohydrodynamics. Fluid dynamic instabilities limit the chance of inertial confinement fusion, a carbon-free process, achieving net energy production. The project will investigate the effectiveness and consequences of suppressing one of these instabilities with a magnetic field.
Nanoscale control of energy and matter for future energy-efficient technologies. Unprecedented control of energy and matter in nanoscale fabrication will be achieved using non-equilibrium self-organised plasma-solid systems. The outcomes will lead to energy-efficient, environment- and human-health-friendly production of nanomaterials for future energy, health, information, food, water, environmental and security technologies.