多级会切磁场等离子体推力器是一种电推进装置。在对此类推力器的基本概念、性能优势进行总结的基础上，系统性地回顾了国内外各研究机构不同功率级推力器的发展历程，并介绍了推力器离子加速及电子传导相关物理机制的研究过程。历经21年的发展，多级会切磁场等离子体推力器表现出显著的性能优势，在未来航天推进领域表现出了巨大的发展潜力。德国泰雷兹形成了以HEMP3050推力器为代表的工程化应用产品。我国微观物理机制的研究提升了推力器的认知水平，不同功率级推力器的研究均取得突破性进展，为推力器未来的快速发展奠定了基础。

Multi-cusped field thruster is a plasma electric propulsion device. Its basic concepts are presented and the thruster development history in different power levels are systematically reviewed in various research institutions both in China and abroad. The physical mechanisms studies on the ion acceleration and electron conductions are introduced. After around 21 years development, Thales has developed its engineering application products, represented by the HEMPT 3050. The studies on the physical mechanism in China has improved the thruster cognitive level, and the breakthroughs in different power levels have laid the foundation for a rapid development of the thruster in the future.

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国家自然科学基金（51806011）；国防技术基础科研项目（JSZL2016203C006）；装备发展预先研究项目（3050105023）。