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 1×106 per second would have a thrust of 250 nN, specific impulse of 10 s, and minimum impulse bit of 50 pN·s. Presented as Paper 2014-3757 at the 50th Joint Propulsion Conference, Cleveland, OH, 28-30 July 2014
Plasmonic Force Space Propulsion
Journal of spacecraft and rockets ; 52 , 4
2015
Article (Journal)
English
Plasmonic Force Space Propulsion
AIAA | 2015
|Transmission Spectrum of Asymmetric Nanostructures for Plasmonic Space Propulsion
Online Contents | 2016
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