3331 レーザアシスト・小型プラズマ推進器の基礎研究

概要

論文の詳細を見る
In this study we propose a novel laser-assisted plasma thruster, in which plasma is induced through a laser beam irradiation onto a target, or a laser-assisted process, and then accelerated by electrical means instead of a direct acceleration only by using a laser beam. Inducing the short-duration conductive plasma between electrodes with a certain voltage, a short-duration switching, or a discharge is achieved, in the laser-assisted PPT. Also, reductions of energy losses to electrodes, electrodes erosion, and improvement of specific impulse through the intense current caused by the short duration discharge can be expected. Here, a fundamental study of a newly developed coaxial laser-assisted pulsed plasma thruster is conducted. Its anode consists of a cupper tube and a cathode, or a solid propellant, of a carbon rod. A DC power supply was used as the power source, and an Nd : AYG laser (wave length : 1.06μm, maximum pulse energy : 1.4J/pulse, pulse width : 10 nsec) was utilized, With this system, the peak current of about 80A with its duration of 15 nsec (FWHM) was observed in a typical case. Also, similar current with similar pulse duration was observed without the power source applied between electrodes.
2002-09-20