Laser Propulsion Research Facilities at DLR Stuttgart

Abstract

Irradiation of materials with sufficiently high laser fluence induces an ablation process at the surface yielding a plasma jet of ablated material and laser-induced force acting on the material due to the recoil of the jet. The paper gives an overview of DLR’s experimental facilities for investigation of the potential of laser ablation induced thrust for future microthrusters and space debris removal. A thrust balance based on a modular torsional pendulum concept and suitable calibration facilities have been constructed for µN to mN measurements in vacuum. In addition, modification of the sample surface after ablation is determined by using a white light interferometry profiler.Moreover, divergence and velocity distribution of ions in the ablation plume are investigated by angularly resolved Faraday cup measurements.