Plasmonic space propulsion uses solar light focused onto deep-subwavelength nanostructures to excite strong optical forces that accelerate and expel nanoparticle propellant. Simulations predict that light within the solar spectrum can excite asymmetric nanostructures to create plasmonic forces that will accelerate and expel nanoparticles. A peak force of 55 pN / W is predicted for a 50-nm-wide, 400-nm-long nanostructure that resonates at 500 nm. Results for a conceptual design of a plasmonic thruster that has 35 layers, 86 array columns, a multistage length of 5 mm, a 5-cm-diam light focusing lens, and uses 100 nm polystyrene nanoparticles expelled at a rate of 1 × 10 6 per second would have a thrust of 250 nN, specific impulse of 10 s, and minimum impulse bit of 50 pN · s .


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    Title :

    Plasmonic Force Space Propulsion


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2015-06-08


    Size :

    6 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




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