Impulse Generation Mechanisms in a Laser-Driven In-Tube Accelerator

Abstract

To enhance laser-propulsion thrust performance, a unique Laser-driven In-Tube Accelerator (LITA) has been developed. This paper numerically analyzes the impulse generation mechanisms in LITA. For this purpose, a LITA performance experiment was conducted in atmospheric air with a projectile installed on a ballistic pendulum to calibrate the numerical approximations. We conducted experimental flow visualization by framing shadowgraph and computational fluid dynamics solving the axi-symmetric Euler equation applied to an ideal gas. The results show that a laser-driven blast wave is generated by a spherical hot gas core where the supplied laser energy is absorbed first. The effect of confinement by the tube or shroud wall is confirmed. The impulse production is established not only from the interaction between the incident blast wave and projectile, but also from the following repetitive pressure waves. Assuming that about 30% of the input laser energy is absorbed by the working air, both the impulse and peak pressure agrees quantitatively between the experiment and numerical simulation.