Dr Aaron Knoll

Research Fellow

Email: a.knoll@surrey.ac.uk
Phone: Work: 01483 68 6444
Room no: 01 BA 00

Office hours

9:00 - 17:30, Monday - Thursday

9:00 - 17:00, Friday

Biography
Research
Publications

Biography

Aaron Knoll is a lecturer in the field of plasma propulsion for spacecraft within the Surrey Space Centre. Aaron received his Bachelors of Aerospace Engineering (2003) and a Masters of Applied Science in Aerospace (2005) from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. During his undergraduate education he performed an internship with the Canadian Space Agency as part of the Software and Ground Segment from 2001 – 2002. Aaron received his Ph.D. (2010) from Stanford University, where he was involved with the research of instability driven electron transport within Hall Effect Thrusters. The focus of Aaron’s research at Surrey is toward the development of novel low power plasma propulsion technologies for small spacecraft.

Research Interests

Aaron's research interests involve experimental and computational plasma physics related to electric propulsion for spacecraft applications. His Ph.D. research focused on Hall Thrusters, and was aimed at understanding the high frequency plasma oscillations that occur in these devices and their relevance to the efficiency and performance. He also has personal research interests in Fluid/Aerodynamic simulations and computational techniques for solution of non-linear partial differential equations.

Research Collaborations

EADS, Astrium, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd

Publications

Journal articles

Pottinger SJ, Lamprou D, Knoll AK, Lappas VJ. (2012) 'Impact of plasma noise on a direct thrust measurement system.'. Rev Sci Instrum, United States: 83 (3)
doi: 10.1063/1.3692740
Knoll AK, Cappelli M. (2008) 'A simple isentropic model of electron transport in Hall thrusters'. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 41 (16)
doi: 10.1088/0022-3727/41/16/162003

Conference papers

Knoll AK, Melly B, Lappas V. (2011) 'The Quad Confinement Thruster - Preliminary Performance Characterization and Thrust Vector Control'. Wiesbaden, Germany: 32nd International Electric Propulsion Conference
Knoll AK, Cappelli M. (2009) 'A multi-fluid 2-D simulation of a co-axial Hall plasma discharge'. Saratoga Springs, New York, USA: 62nd Annual Gaseous Electronics Conference
Knoll AK, Cappelli M. (2009) 'Experimental Characterization of High Frequency Instabilities within the Discharge Channel of a Hall Thruster'. Ann Arbor, Michigan: 31st International Electric Propulsion Conference
Lam C, Knoll AK, Cappelli M. (2009) 'Two-Dimensional (z-theta) Simulations of Hall Thruster Anomalous Transport'. Ann Arbor, Michigan: 31st International Electric Propulsion Conference
Knoll AK, Gascon N, Cappelli M. (2007) 'Numerical Simulation of High Frequency Wave Coupling within a Hall Thruster'. Cincinnati, OH, USA: 43rd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit
Knoll AK, Thomas N, Gascon N, Cappelli M. (2006) 'Experimental Investigation of High Frequency Plasma Oscillations Within Hall Thrusters'. Sacramento, California, USA: 42nd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit
Fernandez E, Knoll AK, Cappelli M. (2006) 'An Axial-Azimuthal Hybrid Simulation of Coaxial Hall Thrusters'. Sacramento, California, USA: 42nd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit
Fernandez E, Knoll AK, Tarik K, Cappelli M. (2005) 'A Two-Dimensional Hybrid (z-theta) Simulation of Coaxial Hall Thrusters'. Princeton University, USA: The 29th International Electric Propulsion Conference
Saraf S, Knoll AK, Pelletier F, Tafazoli M. (2002) 'Investigating Formation Flying and COTS in an Integrated Simulation Environment'. Houston, Texas: SpaceOps 2002
Saraf S, Knoll AK, Melanson P, Tafazoli M. (2002) 'Development of a simulation environment to test space missions COTS technologies'. Proceedings of DASIA 2002, Dublin, Ireland: DASIA 2002
Saraf S, Knoll AK, Tafazoli M. (2001) 'A Selection Methodology for Radiation-Hardened Processors'. Bristol, UK: Avionics 2001
Saraf S, Knoll AK, Tafazoli M. (2001) 'Radiation Hardened Processors: A Comparative Study'. Nice, France: Commercialization of Military and Space Electronics

Patents

Knoll AK. (2011) PLASMA THRUSTERS. Article number PCT/GB2011/051016
Auerbach P, Carter J, Fuller L, Haylett D, Knoll AK, Reitenberg J, Smith A, Thorsell E. (2010) Avalanche rescue device. Article number US 12/660425

Theses and dissertations

Knoll AK. (2010) Plasma oscillations and associated electron transport within hall thrusters. Stanford University, California, USA
Knoll AK. (2005) Simulation of High Frequency Plasma Oscillations within Hall Thrusters. Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada