Laser Propulsion and the Constant Momentum Mission

Journal Article · Tue Mar 30 00:00:00 EST 2004 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1721002· OSTI ID:20632942

Larson, C William; Mead, Jr, Franklin B; Knecht, Sean D ^[1]

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1. Propulsion Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Edwards AFB, CA 93524-7680 (United States)

We show that perfect propulsion requires a constant momentum mission, as a consequence of Newton's second law. Perfect propulsion occurs when the velocity of the propelled mass in the inertial frame of reference matches the velocity of the propellant jet in the rocket frame of reference. We compare constant momentum to constant specific impulse propulsion, which, for a given specification of the mission delta V, has an optimum specific impulse that maximizes the propelled mass per unit jet kinetic energy investment. We also describe findings of more than 50 % efficiency for conversion of laser energy into jet kinetic energy by ablation of solids.

• OSTI ID: 20632942
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 702, Issue 1; Conference: 2. international symposium on beamed energy propulsion, Sendai (Japan), 20-23 Oct 2003; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1721002; (c) 2004 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
ABLATION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
EFFICIENCY
JETS
KINETIC ENERGY
LASER RADIATION
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LASERS
MASS
PLASMA PRODUCTION
PROPULSION
PULSES
SPACE VEHICLES
VELOCITY