Michele Lauriola
PhD thesis title: Plasma numerical modeling of the Microwave Electrothermal Thruster
Academic Tutor: Marco Enrico Ricotti
Academic Supervisor: Matteo Passoni, Filippo Maggi, Alessando Maffini
Industrial Supervisor: Davide Zuin, Antonietta Conte
Affiliate external company or research group: D-Orbit s.p.a.
PhD cycle: 39° (see all student profiles of the same cycle > LINK)
BSc: Medical System Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
MSc: Nuclear Engineering - Nuclear System Physics, Politecnico di Milano
Planned visiting period at the Instituto de Plasmas e Fusao Nuclear (IPFN) of the Istituto Superior Técnico (IST), Lisbon. I will deepen my knowledge of plasma models applied to plasmas with complex chemistry
Thesis abstract
My work focuses on developing suitable numerical tools to study the Microwave Electrothermal Thruster (MET) and to predict its performance under several operating conditions and propellant. At first, I will take advantage of simple, yet effective, global model to simulate the complex plasma chemistry of molecular propellants such as nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) with the purpose of predicting the MET performance and understinding the best operating conditions (under given constraints).
Personal interest in my research theme
Plasma physics is a fascinating field of study because plasmas are everywhere and can be exploited in many unimaginable ways. Indeed, this aligns well with my fascination with space, since the design of an electric propulsion device requires a deep knowledge of plasma physics.
