抄録
In the proposed space propulsion systems powered by a CW laser, laser energy is converted to thermal energy of a propellant gas by means of a mechanical heat exchanger or a stationary Laser-Sustained Plasma (LSP). This paper describes mainly the physical processes in LSP formation and energy conversion in a gas flow bounded in a pressure chamber. The size and position of LSP, which are the function of static pressure and flow velocity of the propellant gas, strongly affect the laser absorption efficiency. Therefore, the chamber shape should be designed to optimize these flow parameters.
