Simulation of Ablation Mode Laser Propulsion Efficiency of Confined Target Geometry

Under the irradiation of high power laser, the surface matter of solid target can be vaporized and ionized instantly. The ejected high temperature and high pressure plume generates propulsion force, this is the fundamental of ablated laser propulsion. A general Godunov finite difference WENO (Weighted Essentially Non-Oscillatory) schemes which have fifth-order accuracy is used to conduct a numerical calculation for laser ablated solid target and its ablated propulsion efficiency. Simulation results show that the propulsion efficiency is dependent to varied degrees on the coupling of target cross direction radius with the laser spot size; the confined geometry of the target surface strengthens the propulsion efficiency dramatically.