Models For Laser Ablation Mass Removal And Impulse Generation In Vacuum

To the present day, literature efforts at modeling laser propulsion impulse often used empirical models. Recently, a simple physical approach was demonstrated to be effective for predicting many practical properties of laser ablative impulse generation under vacuum. The model used photochemical mass removal and energy conservation to predict parameters such as the peak momentum coupling coefficient, the optimal fluence position at which this maximum is reached, and various critical properties related to the laser ablation threshold. Although the current model understanding is not complete, improvements in the treatment of mass removal and ambient pressure are expected to allow this type of model to be broadly applicable to many diverse applications using laser ablation impulse generation. In this paper, we also introduce an alternative formulation of the model incorporating photothermal mass removal. Implications and limitations of the model formulation in its initial stage of development are discussed, particularly concerning critical fluence effects and directions for improvement.