微阴极真空电弧点火起弧及加速机理研究综述

微阴极真空电弧推力器具有结构简单、重量轻、功耗低、比冲高等优点，因而在航天推进领域有着广阔应用前景.当前推力器设计研制、可靠性和寿命的提高等方面遇到的一些关键问题均与微阴极真空电弧放电过程的基本物理问题密切相关.对微阴极电弧推力器运行中涉及的电子发射、电极间起弧过程、阴极斑点形成及特点、烧蚀和形貌变化、电极间等离子体射流加速过程进行了梳理，相关认识可以为今后进一步开展微阴极电弧推力器的设计优化、性能提高奠定基础.

Review on Ignition and Acceleration Mechanisms in a Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster

Micro cathode vacuum arc thruster has the advantages of simple structure, light weight, low power consumption and high specific impulse, thus has a broad application prospect in the field of space propulsion. Currently, some key problems encountered in the thruster design and development, reliability and lifetime improvement are closely related to the basic physics of the micro cathode vacuum arc discharge process. In this paper, the electron emission, inter electrode arcing process, cathode spot formation and characteristics, ablation and morphological changes, and plasma jet acceleration process involved in the operation of micro cathode arc thruster are reviewed, and the related understanding can lay the foundation for further micro cathode arc thruster design optimization and performance improvement in the future.