The effects of the micrometer-scale surface morphology of polyoxymethylene on propulsion performance induced by transversely excited atmospheric CO 2 laser pulse ablation were investigated. Two methods were examined for producing a surface structure on the same order as the laser wavelength, 10:6 m: hydraulic compaction of powder and etching using microelectromechanical systems technology. With the compacted powder, the fluence for maximum momentum coupling coefficient C m shifted to a smaller value of 7 J=cm 2 from the corresponding value of 15 J=cm 2 for bulk material. However, mass consumption was increased, thereby lowering specific impulse I sp . Three surface patterns were examined with the microelectromechanical systems etching, obtaining an up to 20% increment, both in C m and I sp .
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