Basic Research Investigations into Multimode Laser and EM Launchers for Affordable, Rapid Access to Space (Volumes 1 and 2)

This basic research effort on pulsed air breathingrocket laser propulsion, investigates the physics of laser energy deposition into stationary and hypersonic working fluids, inclusive of electrical breakdown, ignition of laser-supported detonation waves LSD, and blast wave propagation over thruster impulse generating surfaces. The future application of AFOSR interest for this basic research endeavor is the laser launch of nano- and micro-satellites i.e., 1-100 kg payloads into Low Earth Orbit LEO, at low cost and on-demand. The present dual-pronged, combined experimentalnumerical research campaigns centered on both static and hypersonic experiments with representative 2D and 3D laser-thruster geometries, using the Lumonics TEA-622 -200J. -100ns and K922M 20-40J, -100ns C02 lasers. Laser scramjet experiments were performed in the T3 tunnel at the Henry T. Nagamatsu Laboratory of Aerothermodynamics and Hypersonics HTNLAH. Time-dependent surface pressure distributions were measured over thrust-generating surfaces following laser energy deposition delivered impulse and momentum coupling coefficients Cm were obtained Schlieren movies of the impulse generation process were recorded with a high-speed Cardin digital camera. to study 1he laser breakdown blast wave expansion process. and evolving flow field structures in both stationary and hypersonic flow. Time-resolved visualizations of inlet and absorption chamber flow fields, enabled qualitative analysis of dominant phenomena impacting laser-propulsion physics.