Flying on a rainbow with a diffractive solar sail (Conference Presentation)

Grover A. Swartzlander Jr.

doi:10.1117/12.2531538

9 September 2019 Flying on a rainbow with a diffractive solar sail (Conference Presentation)

Grover A. Swartzlander Jr.

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

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

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KEYWORDS

Solar sails

Electro optics

Optical tweezers

Oscillators

Patents

Reflection

Reflectivity

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