Laser-Driven Mini-Thrusters

Abstract

Laser-driven mini-thrusters were studied using Delrin and PVC (Delrin is a registered trademark of DuPont) as propellants. TEA CO2 laser (lambda = 10.6 microns) was used as a driving laser. Coupling coefficients were deduced from two independent techniques: force-time curves measured with a piezoelectric sensor and ballistic pendulum. Time-resolved ICCD images of the expanding plasma and combustion products were analyzed in order to determine the main process that generates the thrust. The measurements were also performed in a nitrogen atmosphere in order to test the combustion effects on thrust. A pinhole transmission experiment was performed for the study of the cut-off time when the ablation/air breakdown plasma becomes opaque to the incoming laser pulse.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 08, 2005
Accession Number
ADA443148

Entities

People

  • Andrew V. Pakhomov
  • C. W. L:arson
  • Enrique Sterling
  • Franklin B. Mead Jr.
  • John Sinko
  • Jun Lin
  • Lisa Kodgis
  • Simon Porter

Organizations

  • University of Alabama in Huntsville

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ablation
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Atmospheres
  • Carbon Dioxide Lasers
  • Coefficients
  • Combustion
  • Couplings
  • Detectors
  • Laser Pulses
  • Lasers
  • Measurement
  • Nitrogen
  • Pendulums
  • Piezoelectric Sensors
  • Propellants
  • Thrust
  • Thrusters

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Rocket Propulsion.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster