What is Laser Ignition?
Laser ignition is a new rocket engine ignition method that has begun to be considered with the development of compact semiconductor lasers.
Ignition is performed by directly irradiating a laser beam onto the igniter.
The conventional method using an electric heating wire requires a safety device to be installed in the rocket to prevent the effect of electrical disturbance. However, the laser ignition system does not need to consider the effects of electrical disturbances, and thus does not require a safety device to be mounted on the launch vehicle. As a result, propellant and other materials can be loaded into the empty space created in the rocket, and the rocket’s performance as a flying vehicle can be expected to improve. At the same time, the cost of the safety device can be reduced.
Research
Laser ignition of solid motors in space is currently under consideration.
However, since the spacecraft becomes low temperature due to radiation heat dissipation in deep space environment, it is necessary to evaluate the reliability of laser igniter in low temperature environment in order to implement laser ignition type solid motors.
Therefore, this laboratory is conducting research to clarify the ignition characteristics of laser ignition when the igniter is at low temperatures.
