Determining Optimum Propellants, Pulse Lengths, and Laser Intensity for Ablative Laser Propulsion Using the Pals Laser

Ablative Laser Propulsion (ALP) can potentially reduce the cost of launching payloads into near earth orbit by a factor of 100. Preliminary experiments have demonstrated high efficiency, coupling coefficient, and specific impulse that would be suitable for applications. These experiments, however, were performed at wavelengths not usable in the atmosphere and at pulse energies and spot sizes much smaller than will be required for application. The parameters of the Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS) high-energy iodine laser, other than wavelength: pulse energy, pulse length, and beam diameter, are equal to those required for application. While its wavelength is a little shorter than required, it is closer than any other laser available and, due to PALS' 2ω and 3ω capability, the wavelength dependence can be studied and the results extrapolated to application values. In fact, PALS is probably the only laser in the world with parameters suitable for definitive ALP studies. PALS also has a suitable infrastructure for measuring plasma parameters already and only an instrument for measuring momentum transfer, such as a ballistic pendulum, would have to be added.