Efficiency of Ablation by Pulsed Ion Beam and Propulsion Performance

Abstract

This paper presents the hydrodynamic efficiency of ablation plasma produced by pulsed ion beam based on the ion bea m and solid fuel target interaction. We used a one -dimensional hydrodynamic model, which mostly focused on an ion beam energy deposition phenomena and analyze it as a rocketlike model to explain and examine hydrodynamic variables. These variables were esti mated by the concept of ablation driven implosion in terms of ablated mass fraction, ratio of target velocity, and ablation velocity and thrust efficiency. Hydrodynamic efficiency of 17.5% by means of thrust conversion efficiency was achieved. The results show maximum energy efficiency of the ablation process (ablation efficiency) of about 70% meaning the efficiency with which pulsed ion beam energy E ionbeam is converted into exhaust kinetic energy in the solid fuel material. Moreover, propulsion performanc e with specific impulse of 3600 s was briefly reviewed. An effect of an ablation depth to hydrodynamic efficiency was also tested.