Spot Size Limited Carbon Propellant Characterization for Efficient High Isp Laser Propulsion

Laser propulsion has very unique advantage of producing exhausting gas (ions) of very high velocity. Specific impulse from laser plasma could easily exceed 10,000 seconds that reduce the current propellant consumption rate on space born thrusters significantly. For efficient propellant usage, it is...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIP conference proceedings 2005-04, Vol.766 (1), p.433-441
Main Authors: Uchida, Shigeaki, Shimada, Yoshinori, Hashimoto, Kazuhisa, Yamaura, Michiteru, Birou, Tomoya, Yoshida, Minoru
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CARBON
CONSUMPTION RATES
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
IONS
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LASERS
NEUTRAL PARTICLES
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA PRODUCTION
PROPULSION
SPACE VEHICLES
THERMAL CONDUCTION
THRUSTERS
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Summary:Laser propulsion has very unique advantage of producing exhausting gas (ions) of very high velocity. Specific impulse from laser plasma could easily exceed 10,000 seconds that reduce the current propellant consumption rate on space born thrusters significantly. For efficient propellant usage, it is desirable that the exhaust plasma has rather narrow velocity distribution of fast ions. In order to accomplish the requirements, thermal conduction and neutral particle losses at and vicinity of the laser heated region have to be eliminated. A concept of spot size limited propellant shape has been proposed and tested in terms of the effects of the loss reduction. Ion and neutral particle measurements from laser plasmas produced on the above mentioned carbon targets are used to characterize the performance of the propellant.
ISSN:0094-243X
1551-7616
DOI:10.1063/1.1925164