High Power Laser Propulsion

Preface 10

Acknowledgments 14

Chapter 1. A Brief History of Laser Propulsion

1.1 Introduction 15

1.2 Main Stages of Laser-Propulsion Developments 17

1.3 Physical Processes Underlying Laser Propulsion 31

1.4 General Concepts of Laser Propulsion 40

1.5 Original concepts of high-power laser propulsion 52

1.6 References 59

Chapter 2. Basic Gas-dynamic Theories of the Laser Air-breathing

and Rocket Propulsion

2.1 Introduction 63

2.2 Gas-dynamic Theory of Laser Propulsion 66

2.3 Physics of Laser Plasma Ignited in Gases as Applied to Laser

Propulsion 83

2.4 Numerical Calculations of Non-stationary and Non-isentropic

Gas Flows as Applied to Laser Propulsion 102

2.5 References 114

Chapter 3. Laser Ablation of Solid Materials, Laser-ablation

Propulsion

3.1 Introduction 117

3.2 Physical Phenomena Underlying of Laser Ablation Propulsion 119

3.3 Effects of Solid Target Structure on Laser Ablation Propulsion 129

8 Yuri A. Rezunkov

3.4 Laser-ablation Propulsion Based on Ablation of High-energy

Polymers 136

3.5 Semi-empirical Models of Laser-ablation Propulsion Based on

CHO-polymers 146

3.6 Efficiency f he aosetr-abLlation ropulsiPon ased Bn HOo-poClymers 154

3.7 References 157

Chapter 4. Aerospace Laser Propulsion Engine

4.1 Introduction 160

4.2 The Aerospace Laser Propulsion Engine Conception 161

4.3 ASLPE Thrust Characteristics in a Pulsed Mode of Operation 177

4.4 Adaptation of ASLPE for Continuous Wave (CW) Laser Propulsion 183

4.5 Analysis of Available Technologies as Applied to ASLPE

Development and its Engineering Constraints 190

4.6 Preliminary Conclusion 197

4.7 References 198

Chapter 5. Supersonic Laser Propulsion

5.1 Introduction 201

5.2 Lightcraft Engineering Version Adapted to the Pulsejet Supersonic

Laser Propulsion 203

5.3 Physical Phenomena Going with Ramjet Supersonic Laser

Propulsion 214

5.4 Merging of Individual Shock Waves Into a Auasi-stationary

Integrated Shock Wave 219

5. 5 Supersonic Laser Ablation Propulsion 222

5.6 Conclusion 238

5.7 References 239

Chapter 6. Space Mini-vehicles with Laser Propulsion

6.1 Introduction to the Problem 242

6.2 Scenario of the SMV Orbital Maneuvers 246

6.3 Space Debris Removal out of Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO)

by Using Laser-propelled Space Mini-vehicles 258

6.4 Onboard Laser Propulsion System as Applied to SMV 264

High-Power Laser Propulsion 9

6.5 Brief Outcome 274

6.6 References 275

Chapter 7. Laser Power Transfer to Space Vehicles with Laser

Propulsion

7.1 Introduction into the Problem 277

7.2 Models of the Aerosols and Gases Attenuation, Absorption, and

Scattering of Laser Radiation in the Upper Atmosphere 279

7.3 Self-empirical Models of the Upper Atmosphere Turbulence 287

7.4 Phase and Intensity Profiles of the Laser Beam that Passed

through a Turbulent Atmosphere 295

7.5 Basic tmospAheric ffects EimitingL eliveryD f he oirbtorneA aser L

Power to Space Vehicle 298

7.6 Adaptive Laser Systems for the High-power Laser Propulsion 305

7.7 References 320

Conclusion 324

List of Acronyms 327