Mechanical performance measurement method for laser micro-thruster working in multi-pulse mode

To research the thrust or impulse characteristics of the laser micro-thruster working in multi-pulse mode, the response characteristics of the torsional balance responding to multi-pulse force was analyzed. The measurement method of average thrust or impulse for multi-pulse force was brought forward, and the influence on the measurement of the frequency of the pulse force and when the pulse force was not standard periodic pulse was analyzed by simulation. The results demonstrate that the average thrust is determined as a function of the average equilibrium when the repetitive frequency of pulse force is much higher than the natural frequency such as 10 times. The impulse is determined as a function of the maximum peak and the angle before the maximum peak time when the period of the balance is longer than the working time of multi-pulse force. And when the multi-pulse force is not standard period pulse, the method above is effective.