Method and system of laser-driven impact acceleration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11060193-B2
Application number	US-201716461686-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2017
Priority date	Nov 23, 2016
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

A system and a method for laser-driven propulsion, comprising transferring momentum to a projectile through a low-density material at laser fluences below plasma ablation threshold, the method comprising providing a metal layer having a first surface and a second opposite surface; providing a low density layer having a first surface and a second opposite surface; positioning the low density layer with the first surface thereof in direct contact with the second surface of the metal layer; positioning a projectile on the second surface of the low density layer; and heating the metal layer with laser pulses to temperatures below the liquefaction and ionization thresholds of the metal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for accelerating a projectile, comprising:
providing a metal layer having a first surface and a second opposite surface;
providing a porous layer of pre-compacted powder, the porous layer having a first surface and a second opposite surface;
positioning the porous layer with the first surface thereof in direct contact with the second surface of the metal layer;
positioning a projectile on the second surface of the layer; and
irradiating the first surface of the metal layer with laser pulses of a fluence between 1 and 3 J/cm 2 to temperatures below the liquefaction and ionization thresholds of the metal, thereby generating a pressure wave in the metal layer;
whereby the pressure wave propagates and compacts the pre-compacted powder of the porous layer, thus creating a cavity, and the cavity transfers momentum to the projectile.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising selecting the metal layer with a thickness in a range between 1 μm and 50 μm and a thickness of the layer in a range between 10 μm and 100 μm.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing a transparent layer on the first surface of the metal layer.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing a transparent layer of a thickness in a range between 500 μm and 1 cm on the first surface of the metal layer, and selecting the metal layer with a thickness in a range between 1 μm and 50 μm and a thickness of the layer in a range between 10 μm and 100 μm.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising selecting a pre-compaction density of the pre-compacted powder.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising selecting the materials of the metal layer and of the porous layer for shock impedance matching.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the layer is part of the projectile.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the-projectile is an array of micro-dots.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the projectile is a foam.

10. A method for laser-driven propulsion of a projectile, comprising creating a hot cavity in a porous layer of pre-compacted powder positioned with a first surface thereof in direct contact with a first surface of a metal layer, the projectile being positioned on a second surface of the porous layer, by irradiating a second surface of the metal layer with laser pulses of a fluence in a range between 1 and 3 J/cm 2 to temperatures below the liquefaction and ionization thresholds of the metal; the cavity expanding and generating a pressure wave within the porous layer, thereby transferring momentum to the projectile.

Assignees

• Inst Nat Rech Scient

Inventors

• Kieffer Jean-Claude

Classifications

• B64G1/40

  Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems · CPC title

• B23K26/18

  using absorbing layers on the workpiece, e.g. for marking or protecting purposes · CPC title

• C23C24/087 Primary

  Coating with metal alloys or metal elements only · CPC title

• F03H3/00

  Use of photons to produce a reactive propulsive thrust · CPC title

• B64G1/403

  Solid propellant rocket engines · CPC title