Abstract: A brief recommendation of status of internal process studies on arcjet thruster was given and the influences of this process on performance of arcjet thruster were analyzed.Despite the difficulties of these studies arising from rigour cirumstances in arcjet thrusters,so many progresses were in both experimentation and theory researches.Pressure measurements,electrostatic measurements,spectrum measurements and laser fluorescence induce measurements are main means to reveal internal and outer flow(plume) structures.The sophisticate numerical models with the capacities of reflecting complex processes such as chemical and thermal nonequilibrium were also established.

Key words: Arc jet enjine;Flow diagnose +;Motor performance parameter;Process control;Mathematical model

摘要： 对电弧喷射推力器及其内部工作过程特性作了简要介绍，分析了内部工作过程对其性能的影响并对有关实验与理论研究作了概述。电弧喷射推力器内部流动具有过程复杂剧烈，空间狭小，非平衡性强烈等特点。目前在实验上，采用气动方法、静电方法、光谱方法以及激光方法等获得了内部及外部（羽流）流动过程的多种综合参数和流场参数；理论上已建立了能初步反映化学不平衡、热力学不平衡等较为复杂物理过程的数值模型，为全面认识电弧喷射推力器内部工作过程机制提供了有效的手段。

关键词: 电弧喷射发动机;流场诊断;发动机性能参数;过程控制;数学模型