微波等离子推力器等离子体形成及其与微波耦合机理分析

微波等离子推力器（MPT）的最大优点是微波在谐振腔内放电使工质形成悬浮的等离子体，没有是极的烧蚀与寿命问题。文中计算了MPT谐振腔内氦气工质击穿场强与腔内气压的关系，结合实验现象及参数调节分析了微波等离子推力器等离子体形成的基本物理过程及影响等离子体稳定的因素、等离子体与微波耦合的机理等，为建立微波、等离子体、流场间的耦合计算模型奠定了基础。

Mechanism analysis of plasma forming and coupling with microwave in microwave plasma thruster

Microwave plasma thruster can generate free-floating plasma brought about by microwave discharge breakdown gas in resonant cavity without the service life problem produced by electrode ablation.So,it becomes a noticeable field in the side of space application.In this paper,the numerical simulation of relationship between breakdown electrical field strength of helium medium and gas pressure within resonant cavity is carried out.The fundamental physical process of plasma formed in MPT and the influence factors of plasma stability and plasma coupling mechanism with microwave are analyzed by virtue of experiments and parameter control.All these works are the basis of coupling calculation between microwave,plasma and flow field .