Enhanced transfer performance of sun-facing diffractive sails in solar polar imager missions

Abstract

A diffractive sail represents an advancement in solar sailing technology, capable of generating tangential radiation pressure force when oriented towards the sun. This unique property allows for varied radiation pressure distributions, making it a potential candidate for complex space missions. This paper delves into the transfer performance of the sun-facing diffractive solar sail in a solar polar imager mission.We establish both the radiation pressure force model and the time-optimal control problem specific to the sun-facing diffractive solar sail in interplanetary transfers. Applying an indirect method and a combined approach of parameter optimization with the direct method, we explore how different diffractive angles and acceleration capacities affect transfer times. This research offers insights to the design and fabrication of thin novel optical metamaterial films that efficiently diffract light at appropriate angles for potential solar sails in the solar polar imager mission. Compared with reflective sails, the diffractive sail demonstrates remarkable transfer efficiency and simplicity in attitude control, making it a more suitable choice in the solar polar imager mission.