Experimental Study on Influence of Near-Earth Asteroid Material Characteristics on Laser Ablation Driving Efficiency

Abstract

Based on the issues closely related to the laser driving effect and the characteristics of asteroid materials, experimental research was conducted on the ablation driving efficiency of pulsed laser on near Earth asteroid materials. Different materials and porosity of asteroid like test samples were selected to measure the impulse coupling law. The experimental results show that under the action of pulsed laser ablation, C-type asteroids have higher impulse coupling efficiency than S-type asteroids; As the porosity of asteroids increases, the efficiency of impulse coupling decreases, and the efficiency of laser ablation driving decreases. In addition, experiments were conducted on the changes in mass of laser ablated asteroid like materials, and the results showed the existence of a laser power density that maximizes the efficiency of asteroid mass ablation. For threat asteroids that require long-term warning time, reducing their mass at the fastest rate while ablating and deflecting their orbits can further improve defense efficiency and achieve defense objectives.

Keywords

laser driving / ablation / porosity of asteroids / warning time