Engineering Commons^™

Study Of Optical Propulsion Concepts And Techniques For Small-Satellites, Jaykob Neil Maser

Doctoral Dissertations

"The first objective of this research is to manufacture and investigate the characteristics and use of asymmetric, metallic, nanostructures for plasmonic force propulsion, a developing method of nano-/picosatellite thrust generation. This project developed a higher-fidelity model of a recently envisioned small spacecraft propulsion system for precision pointing and proximity control. Plasmonic force propulsion harnesses solar light focused onto plasmon reactive sub-wavelength nanostructures to generate polarized oscillations of electrons on the surface of metallic nanostructures which accelerate and expel nanoparticle propellant via strong optical forces. This research also explores how material selection affects the electromagnetic response of the closely positioned asymmetric …