Pyroelectrics vs Laser-Wakefield

Guest · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:58 pm Post subject: Pyroelectrics vs Laser-Wakefield

The recent development of accelerators using Laser-Wakefield effect
enables tremendous acceleration gradients within very short distances,
now making "desktop accelerators" possible.

However, a recent experiment was done using a pyroelectric crystal to
bombard deuterium ions into a target:

http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050425/full/050425-3.html

Leaving the nuclear fusion topic aside, I'd like to ask if the elecric
fields generated within these pyroelectric crystals are capable of
acceleration gradients comparable to Laser-Wakefield effect? Does this
pyroelectric crystal effect suggest opportunities to further improve
upon this phenomenon through nano-structuring of materials? (ie. could
nano-engineered materials significantly improve upon the pyroelectric
effect?)

Scott Stephens · science forum beginner Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 5

manofsan@yahoo.com wrote:

Guest

Hi, thanks for the reply.

Well, the nature.com article mentioned that Pyroelectric materials
could be used for microthrusters, accelerating ions to high speeds
using small engine size. Would this be superior to existing ion
thrusters, and are pyroelectrics more energy-efficient?

Is there a possibility that pyroelectric thrusters could generate
enough thrust to compete with combustion rockets? While ion thrusters
are supposed to be more energy-efficient than combustion rockets, they
are also known to produce very low thrust. Could pyroelectric materials
-- even nano-engineered ones -- produce thrust sufficient for escape
velocity in earth or lunar gravity?

Comments?

Could laser-wakefield pulses ever produce high thrust for a rocket by
accelerating ions at high speed?

Scott Stephens · science forum beginner Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 5

manofsan@yahoo.com wrote:

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