The present paper reports optomechanical and quantum electronical analyses of the mechanism of photonic laser thruster (PLT) in achieving spacecraft velocities on the order of 100    km / s by using macroscale laser-like optical resonators. One remarkable result is that the resonance condition of the PLT optical cavity imposes the magnitude of the dynamic frequency shift of the circulating laser beam wavefunction by the moving mirror to equal that of the single-reflection Doppler shift of a nonresonant laser beam. However, their mechanisms are proven completely different. The optomechanical dynamics of PLT was analytically investigated and the chief results are as follows: 1) the maximum achievable PLT spacecraft velocity with existing laser technologies is estimated to be 2000    km / s ; 2) for interplanetary propulsion applications the optimum range of the intrinsic PLT cavity power loss factors from absorption, scattering, and diffraction is 10 4 10 3 ; and 3) the efficiency of transforming the laser energy to the spacecraft kinetic energy increases over 40% at velocities greater than 100    km / s . The present results validate the theoretical feasibility of PLT to enable unprecedentedly fast interplanetary transportation systems, such as the Photonic Railways. The required engineering and manufacturing capabilities for implementing the interplanetary PLT are discussed.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Photonic Laser Thruster: Optomechanical and Quantum Electronical Analyses


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2022-05-01




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Corrosion tests on electronical products

    Reichert, R. / Cäsar, J. | Tema Archive | 1999


    Electronical Steering for Low-Cost EVs

    Klaus, H. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1998


    Electrical and Electronical Architecture of Vehicles

    Morin, F. / Kaag, F. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1994


    Electrical/electronical architectures: future trend

    Catena, M. / Cotignoli, G. / Mortara, P. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1999


    Electronical driving authority - how safe is safe? -

    Thonnes, W. / Kruse, S. / VDI | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003