Numerical Simulations on Momentum Coupling and Orbit Modification in Laser-Based Debris Removal

Kurzfassung

One proposed method of space debris removal is the irradiation of particleswith laser pulses. If the laser energy is high enough, ablation of the surface is occurring and a recoil is formed. With the generated change in momentum and thus change in velocity a debris particle could be de-orbited. At the moment, only rough analytical estimations of this method are available neglecting the exact shape of the particle and the spatial fluence distribution within the laser beam. Based on an existing ablation model, the laser-matter interaction program EXPEDIT was therefore improved and used as a module for a space debris de-orbit simulation. Together, this provides an experimental validated toolbox for further investigations in debris de-Orbit strategies.