A plasma equilibrium model for rapid estimation of SF-MPDT performance

In this work, a zero-dimensional plasma model for self-field magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters (SF-MPDTs) is proposed, which is based on the ion-number balance equation and energy balance equation, and can calculate the average electron temperature and the average ion temperature inside the discharge chamber conveniently. At the same time, the model can also predict the thruster performance, and the thruster performance predicted by the model is compared with experimental results, which proved the reliability of the model.