Airbreathing Laser Propulsion Experiments with 1 {mu}m Terawatt Pharos III Laser: Part 1

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3657026· OSTI ID:21612159

Myrabo, L N; Lyons, P W; Jones, R A; Liu, S ^[1]; Manka, C ^[2]

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1. Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180 (United States)
2. Space Plasma Branch, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. (United States)

This basic research study examines the physics of airbreathing laser propulsion at the extreme flux range of 1-2x10{sup 11} W/cm{sup 2}--within the air breakdown threshold for l {mu}m radiation--using the terawatt PHAROS III neodymium-glass pulsed laser. Six different experimental setups were tested using a 34 mm line focus with 66 {mu}m focal waist, positioned near the flat impulse surface. The first campaign investigated impulse generation with the beam oriented almost normal to the target surface, with energies ranging from 23 to 376 J, and pulses of 5 to 30 ns FWHM. Air breakdown/ plasma dynamics were diagnosed with GOI cameras and color photography. Laser generated impulse was quantified with both vertical pendulums and piezoelectric pressure transducers using the standard performance metric, C{sub M}--the momentum coupling coefficient. Part 1 of this 2-part paper covers Campaign no. 1 results including laser plasma diagnostics, pressure gage and vertical pendulum data.

• OSTI ID: 21612159
• 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: 10.1063/1.3657026; (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
BREAKDOWN
COUPLING
ENGINEERING
GLASS
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
NEODYMIUM LASERS
PERFORMANCE
PHOTON BEAMS
PIEZOELECTRICITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PRESSURE GAGES
PROPULSION
PULSES
SURFACES
TERAWATT POWER RANGE
TRANSDUCERS
BEAMS
ELECTRICITY
LASERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PLASMA
POWER RANGE
SOLID STATE LASERS