Optomechanics of a stable diffractive axicon light sail
Prateek R. Srivastava, Grover A. Swartzlander
Abstract
Beamed propulsion of a light sail based on radiation pressure benefits from a passively self-stabilizing "beam riding" diffractive film. We describe the optomechanics of a rigid non-spinning light sail that mitigates catastrophic sail walk-off and tumbling by use of a flat axicon diffraction grating. A linear stability analysis and numerical integration of the coupled translational and rotational equations of motion are examined. Stability is traded against longitudinal acceleration. The examined system achieves 90% of the theoretical longitudinal force limit and stability against a relative sail translation up to 30% of the sail radius when the payload is attached to a long boom.
Topics & Concepts
OptomechanicsPhysicsAxiconOpticsRadiation pressureSolar sailPayload (computing)DiffractionAerospace engineeringPropulsionEngineeringComputer scienceLaserResonatorNetwork packetComputer networkLaser beamsOrbital Angular Momentum in OpticsExperimental and Theoretical Physics StudiesFluid Dynamics Simulations and Interactions