Laser–Accelerated Plasma–Propulsion System

Laser–Accelerated Plasma–Propulsion System

In this paper, the laser-accelerated plasma–propulsion system (LAPPS) for a spacecraft is revisited. Starting from the general properties of relativistic propellants, the relations between specific impulse, engine thrust and rocket dynamics have been obtained. The specific impulse is defined in term...

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Autores principales: Daniele Palla, Gabriele Cristoforetti
Formato: article
Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: MDPI AG 2021
Materias:
laser–plasma accelerator
TNSA
space propulsion
LAPPS
laser–plasma thruster
high specific impulse
Technology
T
Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
TA1-2040
Biology (General)
QH301-705.5
Physics
QC1-999
Chemistry
QD1-999
Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/86a5f91caf794809b3f259b4215b5d6c
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spelling oai:doaj.org-article:86a5f91caf794809b3f259b4215b5d6c2021-11-11T15:13:09ZLaser–Accelerated Plasma–Propulsion System10.3390/app1121101542076-3417https://doaj.org/article/86a5f91caf794809b3f259b4215b5d6c2021-10-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/21/10154https://doaj.org/toc/2076-3417In this paper, the laser-accelerated plasma–propulsion system (LAPPS) for a spacecraft is revisited. Starting from the general properties of relativistic propellants, the relations between specific impulse, engine thrust and rocket dynamics have been obtained. The specific impulse is defined in terms of the relativistic velocity of the propellant using the Walter’s parameterization, which is a suitable and general formalism for closed–cycle engines. Finally, the laser-driven acceleration of light ions via Target Normal Sheath Acceleration (TNSA) is discussed as a thruster. We find that LAPPS is capable of an impressive specific impulse <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>I</mi><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>p</mi></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> in the <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>5</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> s range for a laser intensity <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>I</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo>≃</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>21</mn></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">W</mi><mo>/</mo><msup><mi>cm</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. The limit of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>I</mi><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>p</mi></mrow></msub><mo>≲</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>4</mn></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> s, which characterizes most of the other plasma-based space electric propulsion systems, can be obtained with a relatively low laser intensity of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>I</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo>≳</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>19</mn></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">W</mi><mo>/</mo><msup><mi>cm</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. Finally, at fixed laser energy, the engine thrust can be larger by a factor <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>2</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> with respect to previous estimates, making the LAPPS potentially capable of thrust-power ratios in the N/MW range.Daniele PallaGabriele CristoforettiMDPI AGarticlelaser–plasma acceleratorTNSAspace propulsionLAPPSlaser–plasma thrusterhigh specific impulseTechnologyTEngineering (General). Civil engineering (General)TA1-2040Biology (General)QH301-705.5PhysicsQC1-999ChemistryQD1-999ENApplied Sciences, Vol 11, Iss 10154, p 10154 (2021)
institution DOAJ
collection DOAJ
language EN
topic laser–plasma accelerator
TNSA
space propulsion
LAPPS
laser–plasma thruster
high specific impulse
Technology
T
Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
TA1-2040
Biology (General)
QH301-705.5
Physics
QC1-999
Chemistry
QD1-999
spellingShingle laser–plasma accelerator
TNSA
space propulsion
LAPPS
laser–plasma thruster
high specific impulse
Technology
T
Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
TA1-2040
Biology (General)
QH301-705.5
Physics
QC1-999
Chemistry
QD1-999
Daniele Palla
Gabriele Cristoforetti
Laser–Accelerated Plasma–Propulsion System
description In this paper, the laser-accelerated plasma–propulsion system (LAPPS) for a spacecraft is revisited. Starting from the general properties of relativistic propellants, the relations between specific impulse, engine thrust and rocket dynamics have been obtained. The specific impulse is defined in terms of the relativistic velocity of the propellant using the Walter’s parameterization, which is a suitable and general formalism for closed–cycle engines. Finally, the laser-driven acceleration of light ions via Target Normal Sheath Acceleration (TNSA) is discussed as a thruster. We find that LAPPS is capable of an impressive specific impulse <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>I</mi><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>p</mi></mrow></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> in the <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>5</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> s range for a laser intensity <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>I</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo>≃</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>21</mn></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">W</mi><mo>/</mo><msup><mi>cm</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. The limit of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>I</mi><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>p</mi></mrow></msub><mo>≲</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>4</mn></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> s, which characterizes most of the other plasma-based space electric propulsion systems, can be obtained with a relatively low laser intensity of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>I</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mo>≳</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>19</mn></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">W</mi><mo>/</mo><msup><mi>cm</mi><mn>2</mn></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. Finally, at fixed laser energy, the engine thrust can be larger by a factor <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>2</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> with respect to previous estimates, making the LAPPS potentially capable of thrust-power ratios in the N/MW range.
format article
author Daniele Palla
Gabriele Cristoforetti
author_facet Daniele Palla
Gabriele Cristoforetti
author_sort Daniele Palla
title Laser–Accelerated Plasma–Propulsion System
title_short Laser–Accelerated Plasma–Propulsion System
title_full Laser–Accelerated Plasma–Propulsion System
title_fullStr Laser–Accelerated Plasma–Propulsion System
title_full_unstemmed Laser–Accelerated Plasma–Propulsion System
title_sort laser–accelerated plasma–propulsion system
publisher MDPI AG
publishDate 2021
url https://doaj.org/article/86a5f91caf794809b3f259b4215b5d6c
work_keys_str_mv AT danielepalla laseracceleratedplasmapropulsionsystem
AT gabrielecristoforetti laseracceleratedplasmapropulsionsystem
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