Specific impulse is one of the most important parameters of the micro-laser plasma thruster. Based on analyzing the
method of measuring specific impulse world widely, a kind of method of measuring specific impulse of the micro-laser
plasma thruster is established, in which impulse is got by laser interferometry and ablative mass is got by simulating the
photograph of ablative target as a truncated cone. The experimental setup of laser interferometry is introduced and the
work principle is given in detail. The method of simulating the ablative mass is supplied and the process is illustrated.
Typical experiment is carried out. The research efforts play a certain important role in measuring specific impulse of the
micro-laser plasma thruster.
Based on pulsed laser propulsion, a set of system to measure pulse thrust with repeated loading was established. In the
experiment, signals of pulse thrust are transformed into electric signals by PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) sensor. Then
the electric signals were collected and displayed with data acquisition facility based on PCI controller. With the laser
pulse rate of 10 Hz and pulse energy of 80J, the measurement was carried out. Two effective signals of pulse thrust were
obtained. Experimental datum show that trend of variation of the first pulse thrust corresponds with that of the second
one. The impulse coupling coefficient from the computation and measurements agree well, which indicates that the
experimental set is reliable.
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