TY - GEN
T1 - Laser-ablative propulsion using polyacetal at low ambient pressures
AU - Sasoh, Akihiro
AU - Mori, Koichi
AU - Anju, Kohei
AU - Suzuki, Koji
AU - Shimono, Masaya
AU - Sawada, Keisuke
AU - Zaretsky, Eugene
PY - 2007/1/1
Y1 - 2007/1/1
N2 - Experimental studies about impulse generation mechanisms and performance of polyacetal with TEA carbon dioxide laser pulse(s) were conducted. The time variation of the laser-ablative pressure was measured using the Velocity Interferometer System for Any Reflector (VISAR). Unlike an aluminum target, the ablative pressure became enhanced at an ambient pressure of 10-2 Pa, whereas at the atmospheric pressure the laser plasma shielded the target against the laser power in the later portion of a laser pulse. The integrated impulse performance from multiple laser pulses was measured using a ballistic pendulum that had a long oscillation time of 27 seconds at a maximum. Up to about ten laser pulses, the impulse stayed low due to the target surface condition. Then, the impulse rose up to a higher level, kept increasing slightly. These impulse characteristics were not significantly affected by the laser pulse repetition frequency, while its magnitude strongly depended on the ambient pressure. The vertical launch of a 6.7-gram projectile using only POM ablation through an evacuated launch tube was successfully demonstrated, and the impulse performance was analyzed.
AB - Experimental studies about impulse generation mechanisms and performance of polyacetal with TEA carbon dioxide laser pulse(s) were conducted. The time variation of the laser-ablative pressure was measured using the Velocity Interferometer System for Any Reflector (VISAR). Unlike an aluminum target, the ablative pressure became enhanced at an ambient pressure of 10-2 Pa, whereas at the atmospheric pressure the laser plasma shielded the target against the laser power in the later portion of a laser pulse. The integrated impulse performance from multiple laser pulses was measured using a ballistic pendulum that had a long oscillation time of 27 seconds at a maximum. Up to about ten laser pulses, the impulse stayed low due to the target surface condition. Then, the impulse rose up to a higher level, kept increasing slightly. These impulse characteristics were not significantly affected by the laser pulse repetition frequency, while its magnitude strongly depended on the ambient pressure. The vertical launch of a 6.7-gram projectile using only POM ablation through an evacuated launch tube was successfully demonstrated, and the impulse performance was analyzed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34250856906&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2514/6.2007-1185
DO - 10.2514/6.2007-1185
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:34250856906
SN - 1563478900
SN - 9781563478901
T3 - Collection of Technical Papers - 45th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting
SP - 14188
EP - 14201
BT - Collection of Technical Papers - 45th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting
PB - American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc.
T2 - 45th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting 2007
Y2 - 8 January 2007 through 11 January 2007
ER -