Influence rules of ground-based laser active removing centimeter-sized orbital debris in LEO

Abstract

The aim of this article is to describe the influence rules of ground-based laser irradiating centimeter-sized orbital debris in low earth orbits (LEO) by numerical simulations and experiments. A dynamic response model of ground-based laser irradiating centimeter-scale orbital debris in LEO was established by analyzing the influences of atmospheric turbulence and beam jitter. The spatial distribution rules of far field spot diameter and far field power density with transmission distance were investigated, the effects of divergence angle to integral spot were analyzed, and the relation of divergence angles and increment of far field spot diameters were also addressed within the turbulent atmosphere. Further, the spatial and temporal distribution rules of velocity and pressure in aluminum target and plasma shock wave were described, and the influence rules of impulse coupling coefficients with power density were also discussed. As a result, the effects of eccentricity and perigee altitude with the number of laser pulses and initial true anomaly were obtained to evaluate removing ability. Hence, it has very important significance for selecting efficient removal schemes to clean centimeter-sized orbital debris in LEO.