Experimental Study of a Laser Micro-Thruster for Precise Attitude Control of Spacecraft

在真空室中对激光微推力器进行了实验研究。实验中，用1 ~ 20 W的连续波激光照射在由铝靶组成的推力器上，得到与激光输入功率成正比的推力（0.3~0.8μN/W）。由于推力取决于真空室中的压力，因此预计激光照射后铝靶周围会形成稀薄的射流。

A laser micro-thruster was experimental investigated in a vacuum chamber. In the experiment, 1-20 W continuous wave laser was irradiated on the thruster, consisting of an aluminum target, and thrust force proportional to the laser input power(0.3～0.8μN/W) was obtained. Because the thrust force depends on the pressure in the vacuum chamber, it is expected that a rarefied jet is formed around the aluminum target as a result of laser irradiation.