Photonic laser propulsion: Proof-of-concept demonstration

Photonic laser propulsion (PLP) is an advanced and innovative photonic propulsion concept that is based on forming an active resonant optical cavity between two space platforms. Photonic propulsion is very efficient in thrust generation at a given power, and the application proposed for its implementation requires high-power photon beams and extremely large space platforms. The practicality of photonic propulsion can be enhanced by overcoming its inherent inefficiency through amplification of photon momentum transfer. This can be achieved by bouncing or trapping photons between two high-reflectance (HR) mirrors that form an optical cavity between two space platforms. The two types of optical cavities considered for this purpose include passive resonant optical cavities and nonresonant optical cavities. The laser given medium is located in the optical cavity, in contrast to the passive resonant cavity, in which the laser medium is located outside of the optical cavity.