Laser propulsion experiments with a high-power pulsed CO2 laser

Wolfgang O. Schall; Hans-Albert Eckel; Wolfgang Riede

doi:10.1117/12.515832

10 November 2003 Laser propulsion experiments with a high-power pulsed CO₂ laser

Wolfgang O. Schall, Hans-Albert Eckel, Wolfgang Riede

Proceedings Volume 5120, XIV International Symposium on Gas Flow, Chemical Lasers, and High-Power Lasers; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.515832
Event: XIV International Symposium on Gas Flow, Chemical Lasers, and High-Power Lasers, 2002, Wroclow, Poland

Abstract

Pulsed laser propulsion may turn out as a low cost alternative for the transportation of small payloads in the mass range of 1 to 10 kg to high altitudes and low Earth orbits (LEO). Using a pulsed, electron beam-sustained multi-wavelength laser with pulse energies as high as 410 J in CO₂ laser gas and possible repetition rates up to 100 Hz the launch of a “Lightcraft” has been demonstrated in the laboratory. A series of single pulse impulse measurements with a pendulum has been performed to derived the impulse coupling coefficient under various conditions. Simple plasma diagnostic and fluid dynamic investigations have been carried out as well.

Citation Download Citation

Wolfgang O. Schall, Hans-Albert Eckel, and Wolfgang Riede "Laser propulsion experiments with a high-power pulsed CO₂ laser", Proc. SPIE 5120, XIV International Symposium on Gas Flow, Chemical Lasers, and High-Power Lasers, (10 November 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.515832

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