From June 22 to June 30, 2024, a student delegation with eight graduate students from JLPP and ASPEL traveled to France to attend the 38th International Electric Propulsion Conference (IEPC) in Toulouse, and have successfully completed their visit.
The delegation, comprising PhD students Luo Zihao, Wu Kunlong, Qi Jiayun, Cao Lehui, Liu Wei, Li Yifei, Cheng Yufeng, and Ren Siyuan, engaged in various academic exchanges and presentations during the conference. They gained insights into the latest developments in electric propulsion technology, exchanged advanced concepts and research experiences with international peers, and enhanced JLPP and ASPEL’s visibility and influence in the field of electric propulsion.
JLPP and ASPEL Delegation Group Photo at the Conference
The International Electric Propulsion Conference (IEPC) is a prestigious academic event in the field of electric propulsion. Since its inception, the conference has played a vital role in the research and development of electric propulsion technology. It brings together experts, scholars, engineers, and students from around the world, providing a significant platform to showcase the latest research findings and technological advancements. Through invited talks, product exhibitions, and paper presentations, the conference fosters global exchange and collaboration in electric propulsion, providing valuable support and impetus for spacecraft propulsion technology. Each conference attracts numerous participants who share their research results, discuss technical challenges, and collectively drive innovation and progress in electric propulsion technology.
This year’s IEPC saw the participation of over 700 scholars from around the world. The conference featured 541 oral presentations across 16 themes, including Hall thrusters, subsystems, and advanced concepts, discussing the current state and development trends in the field of electric propulsion.
During the conference, members of the student delegation, with their solid academic foundation and keen research insights, successfully delivered several high-quality presentations. The topics covered included cathode technology, electrospray thrusters, magnetic nozzle optimization, and high-frequency electrostatic instability in Hall thrusters. Details of the presentations are listed in the table below. At the end of their presentations, the students responded to questions from conference attendees and discussed the development of related technologies. These presentations not only demonstrated the deep accumulation and innovative capabilities of the JLPP and ASPEL teams in the field of electric propulsion but also gained unanimous recognition from domestic and international peers through detailed analysis, unique insights, and vibrant articulations. The presentations highlighted the excellent work of the JLPP and ASPEL teams in electric propulsion and enhanced the understanding and awareness of JLPP and ASPEL among international peers.
Student Representatives | Presentation Titles |
Zihao Luo | Numerical simulation of the ignition process of a new dual trigger electrode hollow cathode |
Kunlong Wu | Development and On-Orbit Application of a Charge Neutralization Electrospray System |
Jiayun Qi | Plasma beam enhancement of a dual-anode vacuum arc thruster with magnetic nozzle |
Wei Liu | High Frequency Electrostatic Instabilities in Planar Hall Thrusters |
Yifei Li | Data-driven analysis of oscillations in wall-less hall thruster |
Lehui Cao | Anisotropic transport property in AF-MPDT numerical simulation |
Yufeng Cheng | Microscopic dynamic mechanism of ion transportation in the external wetted electrospray |
Siyuan Ren | A whole-region 0-D model for thermionic hollow cathode |
Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Delegation Members Giving Oral Presentations at the Conference
On June 24, with the conference organizers, the student delegation visited the famous local tourist attraction – Carcassonne Castle. Carcassonne Castle dates back to ancient Roman times and was once a military fortress city. Today, it is a distinctive tourist town flourishing with Western European culture. The castle houses museums, souvenir shops, restaurants, and dessert shops. Delegation members learned about the castle’s history and culture, sampled local cuisine, and experienced the unique cultural characteristics and atmosphere of the area. During the visit, the delegation also engaged in academic discussions with international peers and presented small gifts featuring Chinese cultural elements to local residents and foreign colleagues. This activity allowed delegation members to experience different cultural customs abroad, promoted the understanding of China among foreign friends, and enhanced cultural understanding alongside academic exchange.
Student Delegation Members Visiting Carcassonne Castle
Article: Lehui Cao, Siyuan Ren, Lingxuan Kong
Photo: Lehui Cao, Jiayun Qi, Yifei Li, Wei Liu, Yufeng Cheng