CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Advanced Search
Home > Proceedings > Volume 11083 > Article
Presentation
9 September 2019 Flying on a rainbow with a diffractive solar sail (Conference Presentation)
Grover A. Swartzlander Jr.
Author Affiliations +
Proceedings Volume 11083, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation XVI; 110831K (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2531538
Event: SPIE Nanoscience + Engineering, 2019, San Diego, California, United States
Abstract
The nearly 100 year-old paradigm of navigating the heavens by means of radiation pressure on a reflective solar sail is being challenged by the advent of advanced diffractive films that offer efficient propulsion and navigation. Other advantages include photon recycling when the sail is transmissive, and non-mechanical (e.g., electro-optic) navigation protocols. Unlike optical tweezers, the transverse force on a solar sail is afforded by the angular deviation of light away from the sunline, rather than a gradient force. Whereas a metal-coated film makes use of the law of reflection, the deviation of light from a diffractive film may be described by use of the grating equation. In the latter case, the grating momentum is, in fact, a mechanical phenomenon that we have observed in the laboratory by means of a vacuum torsion oscillator. Following a brief history of solar sailing I will describe how diffractive sails may enable the placement of a constellation of solar polar orbiters for monitoring the entire surface of the Sun. Laser-driven sails provide another opportunity for in-space propulsion, provided a stable “beam rider” can be invented. I will report our progress on the demonstration of a diffractive beam rider (patent pending).
Conference Presentation
© (2019) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Citation Download Citation
Grover A. Swartzlander Jr. "Flying on a rainbow with a diffractive solar sail (Conference Presentation)", Proc. SPIE 11083, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation XVI, 110831K (9 September 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2531538
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
ORGANIZATIONAL
Sign in with credentials provided by your organization.
INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION
PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.
PERSONAL SIGN IN
No SPIE Account? Create one
;
PURCHASE THIS CONTENT
SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY
50 downloads per 1-year subscription
Members: $195
Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART
25 downloads per 1 - year subscription
Members: $145
Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART
PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE
Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available
Members: $17.00
Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART
PROCEEDINGS
 PRESENTATION
WATCH
PRESENTATION SAVE TO MY LIBRARY
GET CITATION
Advertisement
Advertisement
KEYWORDS
Solar sails
Electro optics
Optical tweezers
Oscillators
Patents
Reflection
Reflectivity
RELATED CONTENT
The analysis on optical property for stereo vision measurement system
Proceedings of SPIE (January 26 2016)
All-solid-state single longitudinal mode MOPA laser system
Proceedings of SPIE (March 05 2018)
The specular reflection in space-based space target detecting
Proceedings of SPIE (January 26 2016)
Multicolor surface-stabilized cholesteric LCD
Proceedings of SPIE (February 01 1998)
Optical coverings in modulators and deflectors in far-IR range
Proceedings of SPIE (August 01 1990)
Effective rapid airframe suppression evaluation (ERASE)
Proceedings of SPIE (August 31 1993)
Theory and simulation of an optical spring mirror
Proceedings of SPIE (October 17 2012)
Subscribe to Digital Library
Receive Erratum Email Alert
Back to Top