Spin of Microwave Propelled Sails

Details Spin of Microwave Propelled Sails Spin of Microwave Propelled Sails

May 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003aipc..664..313b&link_type=abstract

BEAMED ENERGY PROPULSION: First International Symposium on Beamed Energy Propulsion. AIP Conference Proceedings, Volume 664, pp

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Spaceborne And Space Research Instruments, Apparatus, And Components, Laser Applications

Scientific paper

It is not widely recognized that a circularly polarized electromagnetic wave impinging upon a sail from below can spin as well as propel. Our experiments show the effect is efficient and occurs at practical microwave powers. The wave angular momentum acts to produce a torque through an effective moment arm of a wavelength, so longer wavelengths are more efficient in producing spin, which rules out lasers. A variety of conducting sail shapes can be spun if they are not figures of revolution. Spin can stabilize the sail against the drift and yaw, which can cause loss of beam-riding. So, if the sail gets off-center of the beam, it can be stabilized against lateral movement by a concave shape on the beam side. This effect can be used to stabilize sails in flight and to unfurl such sails in space.

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