Model for the anomalous electron mobility in a Hall effect discharge

The mechanism for driving the anomalously high cross-field electron current is one of the most dominant but least understood processes in Hall effect discharges. Recent numerical and experimental studies have suggested that the onset of micro-instabilities---specifically the electron cyclotron drift instability---may be the driving mechanism for this process. There is an outstanding question, however, as to how to relate this mechanism directly to the observed electron transport in these devices. It is not clear if and how this inherently kinetic process can be represented in a fluid-framework, i.e. if there is a form of closure. This work presents a model for this closure inspired by data-driven regression techniques as well recent experimental measurements performed on a 9-kW Hall effect accelerator operated at the University of Michigan’s Large Vacuum Test Facility.