Effects of space-based nanosecond pulse laser driving centimeter-sized space debris in LEO

Abstract

The aim of this article was to address the effects of dynamic response for space-based nanosecond pulse laser irradiating centimeter-sized space debris. A dynamic response model of nanosecond pulse laser irradiating aluminum alloy debris was established, and the variation characteristic of kinetic energy and space-time distributing rule of shock wave were simulated based on different pulse width laser. Further, a deorbit model of space-based pulse laser irradiating the debris was established in low earth orbit (LEO), and the corresponding distribution rule of impulse coupling coefficient with zenith angle was simulated based on different laser pulses width. As a result, the interaction rules of different parameters including perigee altitude, semi-major axis, eccentricity and laser irradiating direction with initial true anomaly were investigated after the debris deorbit. The results indicated that the effects of active deorbit by laser irradiating centimeter-sized debris was superior when the initial true anomaly was 60° to 180° based on the condition of this paper. Especially, when the action direction of laser irradiating debris was opposite to the moving direction of debris circumferential velocity, a wider irradiating area was gotten while the initial true anomaly was about 120° or 240°.