Laser air-jet engine: the action of shock waves at low laser pulse repetition rates

The impact and thermal action of laser sparks on the reflector of a laser engine in which the propulsion is produced by repetitively pulsed radiation is estimated. It is shown that for a low pulse repetition rate, the thermal contact of a plasma with the reflector and strong dynamic resonance loads are inevitable. These difficulties can be surmounted by using the method based on the merging of shock waves at a high pulse repetition rate. (laser applications)