THRUST FORMULA FOR APPLIED-FIELD MAGNETOPLASMADYNAMIC THRUSTERS DERIVED FROM ENERGY-CONSERVATION EQUATION

A thrust formula for applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster s has been derived from the energy conservation equation for the prope llant plasma flow assuming that the work done by electromagnetic force s is converted into kinetic energy of the exhaust plasma, Three accele ration mechanisms, 1) generalized Hall acceleration, 2) swirl accelera tion, and 3) self-magnetic acceleration are taken into account, This f ormula enables theoretical calculation of thrust of an applied-field M PD thruster from controllable thruster operation parameters,and estima tion of the contributions of the respective acceleration mechanisms.