Ignition Characteristics of GH2/GOx Mixture Using a Laser Ablation Ignition.

Irradiating a nano-second laser pulse on a solid surface, a GH2/GO2 combustion chamber was operated to measure the minimum ignition energy for three parameters: the spot diameter, the thruster pressure, and the target material. It was confirmed that this method is useful since the minimum ignition energy can be much less than that of the laser spark ignition. It turned out that the minimum ignition energy increases as the spot diameter increases, and decreases monotonously as the thruster pressure increases. In addition, it was suggested that the ignition is possible even after the irradiation of a million laser pulses by applying the metallic targets (tungsten and stainless). On the other hand, the carbon target provided poor ignition probability.