Laser Ignition Condition for a New RCS Thruster Using Green Propellant

Abstract

Laser ignition condition was studied for a new reaction control system using green propellant of GH2/GO2 by the use of laser-produced ablation plasma. Dependence of the laser pulse width on the minimum ignition laser energy was measured experimentally. Temporal behavior of the laser pulse gave an explanation of the dependence in 10 to 22 ns regime. Heating slope threshold consisting of slope threshold and duration threshold was newly introduced for the interpretation. This new concept could describe not only the explanation of the dependence but also a possibility of more efficient ignition condition.