The Simulation of a High-temperature Space Debris Using an Electrostatic Levitation Furnace and the Measurement of the Laser-ablation-thrust

Abstract

An electrostatic levitation furnace is used to simulate a small space debris heated to a high-temperature in space and to measure thrust-force generated by irradiating a laser beam remotely on the simulated space debris. In the electrical levitation furnace, the divergence of the electric field induces the recovery force proportional to the displacement of an electrically-levitated target on the horizontal plane. The force/displacement proportionality constant, so-called spring-constant is calibrated through an impact-hammer method, inducing an intrinsic oscillation of the target by applying an impulsive force. The external force applied on an electrically-levitated-target in a horizontal direction is estimated from the product of the proportionality constant and the displacement of the target. In the experiment, an electrically-levitated zirconium droplet is heated and ablated by irradiating a continuous-wave carbon dioxide laser beam, and the thrust-force generated on the laser spot is measured.