Plasma Induced UV Laser for the VASIMR instead?

[JoeOh]

I'm sure most of you on this board know what the VASIMR plasma rocket engine that is being prepared to be tested on the ISS. I read that high-powered radio waves are used to heat the argon gas to the plasma state of matter and then the superconducting magnets eject the superheated gas out of the magnetic nozzle to produce the thrust (~1lb).

I also know that the Helicon antenna uses a lot of power (5kw) to produce 1 kilowatts worth of radio waves to heat the argon to the plasma state.

My question is that would a UV laser be more efficient in producing the plasma needed to make this work? I know that UV lasers are great at ionizing gases at Earth's atmospheric pressure. Maybe there is another benefit to using this system. Other than heat, there tends to be little "waste" with lasers.

 

[eljose79]

Hello,

Thank you for bringing up this interesting topic. I am always excited to discuss and explore new technologies in space propulsion.

Firstly, I would like to clarify that the VASIMR plasma rocket engine is not being prepared to be tested on the ISS, but rather it has already been tested on the ISS in 2015. The engine has been in development for over 30 years and has gone through various stages of testing and improvements.

Now, to answer your question about the use of UV lasers in producing the plasma for the VASIMR engine. While UV lasers are indeed efficient in ionizing gases at Earth's atmospheric pressure, they may not be the best choice for producing the plasma needed for the VASIMR engine.

The VASIMR engine uses argon gas as its propellant, which is a noble gas and does not easily ionize. Therefore, it requires a significant amount of energy to ionize the argon gas and turn it into plasma. This is where the high-powered radio waves come in. They are able to efficiently ionize the argon gas and produce the high-temperature plasma needed for the engine to work.

On the other hand, UV lasers may not be as efficient in ionizing argon gas as they are in ionizing gases at atmospheric pressure. This is because the UV laser would need to be focused and concentrated to produce enough energy to ionize the argon gas. Additionally, the UV laser would also need to be continuously operated, which can be a challenge in the vacuum and extreme conditions of space.

Furthermore, the VASIMR engine already has a highly efficient system in place with the use of superconducting magnets to eject the plasma out of the nozzle. Introducing a UV laser system would add complexity and weight to the engine, which could potentially affect its performance.

In conclusion, while UV lasers may have their benefits in other applications, the current system of using high-powered radio waves to produce the plasma for the VASIMR engine seems to be the most efficient and practical option. However, as with any technology, there is always room for improvement and further research and development may lead to advancements in the VASIMR engine and its propulsion system.