Journal Article

Multilayers for directed energy accelerated lightsails

Favaro, Giulio, Santi, Giovanni, Bazzan, Marco, Garoli, Denis, Lubin, Philip, Ragazzoni, Roberto, Pelizzo, Maria G., Corso, Alain J.

2022

Overview

A lightsail accelerated via directed energy is a candidate technology to send a probe into the deep space in a time period compatible with human life. The light emitted by a ground-based large-aperture phased laser array is directed onto the lightsail to produce a thrust by transferring the momentum of the incident photons. Here we demonstrate that optimized multilayer structures allow ultralight spacecraft being accelerated by laser radiation pressure up to 20% of the light velocity, and eventually even above, as long as a compromise between efficiency and weight is achieved. Layer materials are selected to provide high reflectance in the Doppler-shifted laser wavelength range as well as high emissivity in the infrared, this last characteristic being required to survive to the temperature increase during the acceleration phase. Lightsails accelerated by ground-based laser arrays are a candidate technology to send probes into deep space in a timeframe compatible with human life. Here, an optimization study identifies the most promising multilayer structures that maximize propulsion efficiency, thermal stability, and mechanical stiffness.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 639/166/984 / 639/301/119/544 / Acceleration / Chemistry and Materials Science / Deep space / Laser arrays / Lasers / Materials Science / Materials selection / Multilayers / Optimization / Radiation pressure / Stiffness / Thermal stability