A small ship running test with laser propulsion

A fundamental test of running a very small wooden ship model with laser propulsion was performed. The pulsed Nd:YAG laser beam (lambda = 532 nm) through a lens placed on a ship was focused to cause a laser-gas breakdown above it. The blast wave of hot air involving a shock wave and gas expansion by a plasma was used for propellant. Experimental results of the thrust and the efficiency of laser energy converted to propulsion force were F = 4.0 dyn and eta = 7.4 x 10 exp -5 percent, respectively.