A theoretical model of current collection

Abstract

Numerical simulations were carried out on the high-bias voltage on the conducting satellite for the current collection. Results show that the particle trajectories are dependent on the geomagnetic field orientation and the biased potential on both the satellite and the instrument's detector. It is noted that these particles will not escape from the plasma sheath when the B field is perpendicular to the satellite surface plane. It is also shown that part of the satellite surface will be shielded if the perpendicular magnetic field is greater than 0.35 gauss.