Air‐breathing mode pulsed CO 2 laser propulsion performance of parabolic thrusters was studied. Momentum coupling coefficients of different laser pulse energies, laser pulse widths and thruster's geometric structures were measured. In the energy range of 3.5 J to 30 J for our experiment, there is the same specific laser energy of 17.5 J for both thrusters, where the coupling coefficient rises almost linearly with the raise of energy for the energy below 17.5 J, and the coupling coefficient remains almost constant for the energy above 17.5 J. By utilizing a metal needle to lower the threshold of ignition, pulsed CO 2 laser propulsion with laser pulse width of 20 μs, 32 μs and 40 μs was carried out, and the coupling coefficient decreases for longer pulse. A kind of accessional nozzle for a parabolic thruster was proposed and the coupling coefficient for different geometric parameters of the nozzle was measured. The coupling coefficient can be raised by 85%, and a coupling coefficient of 413 N/MW was obtained.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Experimental Study on Pulsed Laser Propulsion Performance of Parabolic thrusters


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    BEAMED ENERGY PROPULSION: Seventh International Symposium ; 2011 ; Ludwigsburg, (Germany)


    Published in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 1402 , 1 ; 65-73


    Publication date :

    2011-11-10


    Size :

    9 pages





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Experimental study on pulsed laser propulsion performance of parabolic thrusters

    Tan, R. / Chen, J. / Zheng, Y. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2011


    Optimization of pulsed plasma thrusters for microsatellite propulsion

    Turchi, P. / Mikellides, I. / Mikellides, P. et al. | AIAA | 1999