New Laser Applications for Electric Propulsion

Various applications of lasers to electric propulsion problems have previously been made, and laser techniques are potentially powerful means to address and resolve a range of current issues. Studies with sufficiently high resolution and sensitivity to reveal the fine details of velocity, density, and temperature distributions for trace species will be especially valuable. Continuous narrowband, coherent, tunable laser radiation in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum is often required to gain access to electronic transitions involving the ground state of the byproducts of thruster operation, as well as for propellant species themselves, but typically is generated with experimental difficulty. Means are presented to accomplish this task and enable the study of a large variety of previously unstudied species. The capabilities and applicabilities of two relevant laser systems are discussed in some detail. Previous applications of laser methods to electric thrusters are reviewed as well.