Computer Simulation of a Solid-State Laser System for Propulsion of a Space 'Tugboat' from LEO to GEO

Development of Laser Orbital Transfer Vehicles (LOTV) driven by an aircraft-based laser requires correction for laser beam distortion caused by the aircraft vibration, thermal deformation of laser optics, turbulence and nonlinear effects in upper layers of the atmosphere, etc. We have analyzed a pos...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sherstobitov, V E, Kaliteevskiy, N A, Kuprenyuk, V I, Rodionov, A Yu, Romanov, N A, Semenov, V E, Soms, L N, Vysotina, N V
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Development of Laser Orbital Transfer Vehicles (LOTV) driven by an aircraft-based laser requires correction for laser beam distortion caused by the aircraft vibration, thermal deformation of laser optics, turbulence and nonlinear effects in upper layers of the atmosphere, etc. We have analyzed a possibility of combined use of an adaptive optics system (AOS) and phase conjugate mirrors (PCM) for the beam clean up and correction for turbulent distortion using a beacon laser at the 'tugboat'. The analysis is performed for a repetitively pulsed 200 kW Yb:YAG diode-pumped solid-state laser with a 1 meter class beam-director. The results of computer simulation of the system performance for different distances from 300 to 36000 km are presented.
ISSN:0094-243X
DOI:10.1063/1.1925156