Electromagnetic Acceleration Characteristics of Laser-Electric Hybrid Thrusters

Journal Article · Tue May 02 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2203264· OSTI ID:20800239

Sasaki, Koki; Takeda, Akihito; Horisawa, Hideyuki ^[1]; Kimura, Itsuro ^[2]

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1. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Tokai University, 1117 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, 259-1292 (Japan)
2. University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8856 (Japan)

A fundamental study on a laser-electric hybrid thruster was conducted, in which laser-induced plasmas were generated through laser beam irradiation on to a solid target and accelerated by electrical means instead of direct acceleration using only a laser beam. As two typical cases of the hybrid propulsion systems, a feasibility study on electrostatic acceleration mode and electromagnetic acceleration mode of the laser ablation plasma were conducted including thrust performance tests with a torsion-balance, ion current measurements, and ICCD camera observations. It was confirmed that the thrust performances could be improved with electric energy inputs.

• OSTI ID: 20800239
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 830, Issue 1; Conference: 4. international symposium on beamed energy propulsion, Nara (Japan), 15-18 Nov 2005; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2203264; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ABLATION
ACCELERATION
CAMERAS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
IONS
LASERS
PERFORMANCE
PLASMA
PLASMA PRODUCTION
PROPULSION
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
THRUSTERS
TORSION