A microwave beaming thruster boosted by a 170GHz gyrotron was investigated. Plasma was successfully initiated by focusing the millimetre wave beam using a parabolic reflector. The plasma propagation velocity was increased with the beam power density; the velocity became supersonic at the power density beyond 80 kW/cm/sup 2/. Propulsive impulse was measured through the flight experiments, and resulting momentum coupling coefficient, a ratio of thrust to input energy, was found drastically increased when the plasma propagation velocity becomes supersonic.
Application of high power millimeter-wave to space propulsion
2005-01-01
1545746 byte
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Application of high power millimeter-wave to space propulsion
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