Acceleration characteristics of laser ablation Cu plasma in the electrostatic field

As a new concept of space propulsion system, laser-ablation propulsion has attracted more and more attention due to its characteristics of low power consumption, high specific impulse, variable and controllable thrust. With an aim to further raise up the movement velocity of plasma, we combine the laser with high-voltage electrostatic field to accelerate the Cu plasma induced by laser ablation. To demonstrate the acceleration characteristics of plasma under different electric field intensity, the plasma conductivity, plasma shockwave intensity and plasma plume movement process were tested using parallel electrode plate device, self-made torsion pendulum impulse test bench and high-speed ICCD camera. The results showed that the conductive current and impulse formed by the plasma obviously increased under the applied electric field. The images captured by high-speed ICCD camera showed the plasma cross-sectional area was 0.194 mm2 at 900 ns and 0.217 mm2 at 1600 ns when the electric field intensity was 0 V/mm. With the electric field intensity increased to 30 V/mm, the plasma cross-sectional area elevated to 0.280 mm2 at 900 ns and 0.288 mm2 at 1600 ns. The acquisitions prove that the idea of this paper is feasible and favorable, which provide a theoretical basis for the combination of laser ablation propulsion and electric field.