Ion Engine Grid Erosion Cross-Section (2D)

This 2D companion to the 3D ion-thruster grid-erosion simulator draws the real axisymmetric radius-vs-axial-distance cross-section through one representative screen/accel aperture pair, instead of a revolved 3D scene. Charge-exchange ions born downstream are pulled back by the accel grid's field and carve a literal, growing pit-and-groove notch into the aperture's downstream lip — driven by the same beam-current, accel-voltage and propellant-dependent sputter-yield formula as the 3D sim, but visualised as an actual eroding profile rather than a uniformly scaled ring. Push the perveance J_b/|V_a|^1.5 past its critical value and a second failure mode appears directly in the view: beam ions start striking the accel grid's front face instead of passing cleanly through it. Drag to pan and scroll to zoom the cross-section for a closer look at the erosion profile as it develops.