Materials processing for space applications using a gyrotron-based millimeter-wave system

Author

Bruce, R.W. ; Bruce, Robert L. ; Foster, Sheena ; Lombardi, M.T. ; Fliflet, A.W. ; Kinkead, A.K.

Author_Institution

RWBruce Associates Inc., USA

Volume

1

fYear

2005

fDate

19-23 Sept. 2005

Firstpage

32

Abstract

Because of the beam forming capability of a millimeter-wave source at 83-GHz, a gyrotron-based system is being used to develop material processing technologies for possible space applications, e.g., the Moon and Mars. Preliminary studies of the interaction of a millimeter-wave beam and simulants of lunar regolith (i.e., ´moon dust´) is presented. The configuration of the millimeter-wave processing system is given in Bruce et al. (2005) and Choi et al. (2004) and is not described in detail here. Additionally, an initial design study of a flyable millimeter-wave system is also described.

Keywords

aerospace materials; gyrotrons; millimetre wave devices; 83 GHz; beam forming capability; gyrotron-based system; lunar regolith; materials processing; millimeter-wave beam; millimeter-wave processing system; millimeter-wave source; millimeter-wave system; space applications; Conducting materials; Heating; Job shop scheduling; Materials processing; Millimeter wave technology; Moon; Plasma materials processing; Plasma temperature; Powders; Space technology;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Infrared and Millimeter Waves and 13th International Conference on Terahertz Electronics, 2005. IRMMW-THz 2005. The Joint 30th International Conference on

Print_ISBN

0-7803-9348-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICIMW.2005.1572392

Filename

1572392