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Title: CO{sub 2} Laser Ablation Propulsion Tractor Beams

Abstract

Manipulation of objects at a distance has already been achieved with no small measure of success in the realm of microscopic objects on the scale size of nanometers to micrometers in applications including laser trapping and laser tweezers. However, there has been relatively little effort to apply such remote control to macroscopic systems. A space tractor beam could be applied to a wide range of applications, including removal of orbital debris, facilitation of spacecraft docking, adjustment of satellite attitude or orbital position, etc. In this paper, an ablative laser propulsion tractor beam is demonstrated based on radiation from a CO{sub 2} laser. Cooperative, layered polymer targets were used for remote impulse generation using a CO{sub 2} laser. The use of a structured ablatant enabling switching between thrust directional parity (i.e., forward or reverse) and imparting torque to a remote target. Fluence-dependent results are presented in the context of polymer ablation modeling work and with consideration of confined ablation effects.

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Micro-Nano Global Center of Excellence, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603 (Japan)
  2. Institute for Materials and Complexity, Saint Louis, MO 63112 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21367300
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
AIP Conference Proceedings
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 1230; Journal Issue: 1; Conference: 6. international symposium on beamed energy propulsion, Scottsdale, AZ (United States), 1-5 Nov 2009; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3435444; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; Journal ID: ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING; ABLATION; CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS; DISTANCE; IRRADIATION; MIRRORS; POLYMERS; PROPULSION; PROPULSION SYSTEMS; PULSES; REMOTE CONTROL; REMOVAL; SPACE; TORQUE; CONTROL; GAS LASERS; LASERS

Citation Formats

Sinko, John E, and Schlecht, Clifford A. CO{sub 2} Laser Ablation Propulsion Tractor Beams. United States: N. p., 2010. Web. doi:10.1063/1.3435444.
Sinko, John E, & Schlecht, Clifford A. CO{sub 2} Laser Ablation Propulsion Tractor Beams. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3435444
Sinko, John E, and Schlecht, Clifford A. 2010. "CO{sub 2} Laser Ablation Propulsion Tractor Beams". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3435444.
@article{osti_21367300,
title = {CO{sub 2} Laser Ablation Propulsion Tractor Beams},
author = {Sinko, John E and Schlecht, Clifford A},
abstractNote = {Manipulation of objects at a distance has already been achieved with no small measure of success in the realm of microscopic objects on the scale size of nanometers to micrometers in applications including laser trapping and laser tweezers. However, there has been relatively little effort to apply such remote control to macroscopic systems. A space tractor beam could be applied to a wide range of applications, including removal of orbital debris, facilitation of spacecraft docking, adjustment of satellite attitude or orbital position, etc. In this paper, an ablative laser propulsion tractor beam is demonstrated based on radiation from a CO{sub 2} laser. Cooperative, layered polymer targets were used for remote impulse generation using a CO{sub 2} laser. The use of a structured ablatant enabling switching between thrust directional parity (i.e., forward or reverse) and imparting torque to a remote target. Fluence-dependent results are presented in the context of polymer ablation modeling work and with consideration of confined ablation effects.},
doi = {10.1063/1.3435444},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21367300}, journal = {AIP Conference Proceedings},
issn = {0094-243X},
number = 1,
volume = 1230,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu May 06 00:00:00 EDT 2010},
month = {Thu May 06 00:00:00 EDT 2010}
}