Laser Ablation Thrusters for Atmospheric Flight Applications

Abstract

In this study, authors propose direct focusing of repetitive high-power laser pulses on an arbitrary surface of the vehicle in atmosphere, in which a blast wave is generated at each pulse and pushes the vehicle on the surface inducing an impulse or thrust vector. A fundamental investigation was conducted on interaction of a focused high-power laser pulse, or blast wave, and the surface with arbitrary shape. Numerical simulation on characteristics of impulse, or thrust, vector generation on the surface was conducted. As the first step of the simulation, for simplicity, some fundamental shapes of the surface, or a vehicle, were assumed, which were planar and semicircular bodies, and shock-surface interactions were investigated. As results, a deeper convex vehicle showed largest vertical impulses, and a shallower convex vehicle showed smallest horizontal impulses. Nomenclature r = Model radius θ = Laser irradiation spot angle α = Nozzle angle t = Time