Beam-Riding Analysis of a Parabolic Laser-thermal Thruster

Journal Article · Thu Nov 10 00:00:00 EST 2011 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3657021· OSTI ID:21612158

Scharring, Stefan; Eckel, Hans-Albert ^[1]; Roeser, Hans-Peter ^[2]

---

1. Institute of Technical Physics, German Aerospace Center, D-70569 Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 38-40 (Germany)
2. Institute of Space Systems, University of Stuttgart, D-70569 Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 31 (Germany)

Flight experiments with laser-propelled vehicles (lightcrafts) are often performed by wire-guidance or with spin-stabilization. Nevertheless, the specific geometry of the lightcraft's optics and nozzle may provide for inherent beam-riding properties. These features are experimentally investigated in a hovering experiment at a small free flight test range with an electron-beam sustained pulsed CO{sub 2} high energy laser. Laser bursts are adapted with a real-time control to lightcraft mass and impulse coupling for ascent and hovering in a quasi equilibrium of forces. The flight dynamics is analyzed with respect to the impulse coupling field vs. attitude, given by the lightcraft's offset and its inclination angle against the beam propagation axis, which are derived from the 3D-reconstruction of the flight trajectory from highspeed recordings. The limitations of the experimental parameters' reproducibility and its impact on flight stability are explored in terms of Julia sets. Solution statements for dynamic stabilization loops are presented and discussed.

• OSTI ID: 21612158
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1402, Issue 1; Conference: 7. international symposium on beamed energy propulsion, Ludwigsburg (Germany), 10-14 Apr 2011; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3657021; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
CARBON DIOXIDE
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COUPLING
ELECTRON BEAMS
ENGINEERING
EQUILIBRIUM
GAS LASERS
NOZZLES
PROPULSION
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
SPIN
STABILITY
STABILIZATION
THRUSTERS
TRAJECTORIES
VEHICLES
WAVE PROPAGATION
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
BEAMS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
LASERS
LEPTON BEAMS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PARTICLE PROPERTIES