Background The cylindrical anode layer Hall plasma accelerator offers significant advantages, including a compact structure, high specific impulse, high efficiency, long lifespan, and low contamination. It demonstrates great application potential in areas such as microsatellite propulsion, deep space exploration, and material surface treatment. However, during operation, this device generates plasma radiation and secondary radiation, posing potential risks to equipment operational safety and personnel health.

Purpose This study aims to clarify the radiation sources and characteristics of this accelerator, reveal the motion patterns of charged particles within it, explore effective radiation protection schemes, and provide theoretical and technical support for the safe design and engineering application of the device. This addresses the dual requirements of the aerospace field for both protection effectiveness and lightweight design.

Methods First, the sources and core characteristics of the radiation were systematically determined through literature review and theoretical analysis. Second, a simulation model was established using the PIC/MCC method to investigate the motion patterns of charged particles inside the accelerator in depth, laying a theoretical foundation for radiation protection research. Finally, experimental tests were conducted to obtain radiation intensity distributions at different positions and angles, and the radiation protection effectiveness of various materials was compared.

Results Based on the above research, a composite protection scheme composed of 1 mm tungsten alloy + 3 mm polyethylene + 1 mm boron carbide was proposed. This scheme achieves a dose rate attenuation of 82.45% with an areal density of only 24.44 kg/m², successfully meeting the lightweight design goal while providing efficient radiation protection.

Conclusions In summary, the proposed composite protection scheme can effectively mitigate the radiation risks of this accelerator, balancing protection effectiveness with lightweight requirements, and is capable of meeting aerospace application needs. The theoretical analysis, simulation results, and experimental data from this study also provide important theoretical and technical support for radiation protection research, safety design, and engineering application of this type of accelerator.