Airbreathing Laser Propulsion Experiments with 1 {mu}m Terawatt Pharos IIILaser: Part 2

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3657027· OSTI ID:21612160

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

---

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 employed using a 34 mm line focus with 66 {mu}m focal waist, positioned near the flat impulse surface. The 2nd Campaign investigated impulse generation with the laser beam focused at grazing incidence across near horizontal target surfaces, with pulse energies ranging from 55 to 186 J, and pulse-widths of 2 to 30 ns FWHM. Laser generated impulse was measured with a horizontal Plexiglas registered ballistic pendulum equipped with either a steel target insert or 0.5 Tesla permanent magnet (NEIT-40), to quantify changes in the momentum coupling coefficient (C{sub M}). Part 2 of this 2-part paper covers Campaign no. 2 results including C{sub M} performance data, and long exposure color photos of LP plasma phenomena.

• OSTI ID: 21612160
• 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: 10.1063/1.3657027; (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
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
BREAKDOWN
COUPLING
DATA ACQUISITION
ENGINEERING
LASER RADIATION
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
NEODYMIUM LASERS
PERFORMANCE
PHOTON BEAMS
PROPULSION
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
PULSES
STEELS
SURFACES
TERAWATT POWER RANGE
ALLOYS
BEAMS
CARBON ADDITIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
LASERS
PLASMA
POWER RANGE
RADIATIONS
SOLID STATE LASERS
TRANSITION ELEMENT ALLOYS