Rectangular Pulsed Laser-Electromagnetic Hybrid Accelerator

Abstract

A fundamental study of newly developed PPT type rectangular laser-electromagnetic hybrid thrusters was conducted, in which laser-induced plasma was induced through laser beam irradiation onto a solid target and accelerated by electrical means instead of direct acceleration only by using a laser beam. The performance of the thrusters was evaluated by measuring the mass shot and the impulse bit, and calculating the specific impulse and the propulsion efficiency. As a result, specific impulse varied from 5,300 to 7,100 seconds with increase of charge energy to the capacitor from 2.2 to 8.6 J with a laser pulse energy of 266 mJ. The maximum thrust efficiency of 22% was obtained with the smallest charge energy case. In addition, to optimize the acceleration channel geometry, thrust performance of seven various thrusters with various geometries were compared. The maximum impulse-bit and specific impulse obtained with the 5 mm (width) x 10 mm (length) thruster were from 28 μN and from 7,200 sec for the charge energy of 8.6 J.