Optimum physical conditions of accelerating solid state bodies in the regime of laser ablation

Abstract

A brief analytical review of basic data obtained in theoretical and experimental investigations into the process of acceleration of solid bodies by a laser pulse in a mode of laser ablation is presented. It is noted the possibilities of laser acceleration methods have not been exposed yet. This can be ascribed to a great variety of physical conditions of acceleration by use of laser ablation depending on the problem stated and approach to its realization including the choice of material for ablation, type of laser facility, laser beam intensity and so on. The paper deals with the following: data on flat foil acceleration by a nanosecond laser pulse; conditions of accelerating frozen hydrogen pellets by a C02-laser pulse in the regime of laser driven rocket thrust; and possibilities of launching satellites into low-altitude earth orbits by use of high-power lasers.Optimal physical conditions in a laser plasma corona (vapours near the surface irradiated) which enable the best results to be reached are discussed.

Laser Application in the Control of Satellite Orbit

“…A.Kantrovitz [1] was the first to offer using of powerful lasers for satellite launch. To describe the process of accelerating the object one can apply the Meshchersky equation [6] as is the case of acceleration of a rocket with chemical fuel To describe the process of accelerating the object one can apply the Meshchersky equation [6] as is the case of acceleration of a rocket with chemical fuel…”

“…(Remember that in optimizing laser irradiation it is necessary to meet the condition VE ~ V [6]. Since consumption of a significant amount of the ablation substance is undesirable, it is necessary to have an exhaust velocity of ablation vapours as high as possible, VE » V in order to obtain the needed result, i.e.…”

“…In this work we consider the possibilities of laser application in the orbit parameters control of small-scale satellites (of order of several kilograms mass) launched, for example, with lasers [1][2][3][4][5][6] into the low-altitude orbit.…”

“…In a number of countries (the USA, Japan, France, Germany, etc) [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] the experimental investigations are under way aimed at finding optimal variants of using powerful lasers for satellite launch including the choice of laser parameters and ablation substances, search for effective modes of conversion of laser energy to that of satellite motion.…”

“…In the literature other methods of body acceleration such as rail guns are being discussed also [6,8]. However lasers offer a significant advantage being capable of overlapping a wide range of velocities up to 100 km/s and more [6].…”