Numerical simulation of a rotating magnetic sail for space applications

Abstract: The Magnetic Sail is a space propulsion system that utilizes the interaction between solar wind particles and an artificial dipole magnetic field generated by a spacecraft's coil to produce thrust without the need for additional plasma or propellant. To reduce the size of the sail while improving the efficiency of capturing solar wind, a new type of rotating magnetic sail with an initial rotation speed is proposed. This study evaluates the thrust characteristics, attitude, and size design factors of a rotating magnetic sail using a 3-D single-component particle numerical simulation. The results show that an increase in rotational speed significantly increases the thrust of the rotating magnetic sail. The thrust is most significant when the magnetic moment of the sail is parallel to the direction of particle velocity. The study also found that the potential for the application of the rotating magnetic sail is greatest in orbits with high-density and low-speed space plasma environments. It suggests that a rotating magnetic sail with a magnetic moment (Mm) of 10^3-10^4 Am^2 operating at an altitude of 400 km in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) can achieve a similar thrust level to that of a rotating magnetic sail operating at 1 AU (astronomical unit) of 10^7-10^8 Am^2.