FEM Simulations of Laser-induced Ablation for Space Debris Removal

Kurzfassung

Laser-induced surface ablation from short, high-intensity laser pulses can be employed to generate momentum at a remotely placed target. Conceptual research on space debris removal is carried out regarding momentum transfer from ground to debris objects in the Low Earth orbit in order to modify their trajectories in a way that eventually results in burn-up in the upper atmospheric. The imparted momentum and laser-induced heat strongly depend from both material and laser parameters. A one-dimensional simulation environment in COMSOL Multiphysics is described in which the process of laser ablation with metals is modeled in great detail. Special consideration is given to the temperature-dependency of the material's thermophysical and optical properties, including the plasma plume of the ejected surface material, which yields in strong bi-directional coupling of the involved physical phenomena.