Abstract
The objective of this study is to develop a microthruster, utilizing a reaction force of the molecular flow generated through dissociation of molecular bonds of solid polymer targets by irradiation of ultraviolet (uv) photons, namely photo-dissociations. The uv-photons, carrying higher photon energies, are capable enough to directly dissociate the molecular bonds having lower bonding energies than the photon energies. In this study, the uv-photons from light emitting diodes were irradiated to two types of solid polymer targets, nylon6 and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), to compare each mass consumption rates and thrusts caused through the photo-dissociation. The results showed that PVC target generated higher thrusts in lower propellant mass consumption rates than nylon6.
