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[wikipe] Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia Search [ ] Search * Create account * Log in [ ] Personal tools * Create account * Log in Pages for logged out editors learn more * Contributions * Talk Contents move to sidebar hide * (Top) * 1History * 2Advantages over reflective sails * 3References [ ] Toggle the table of contents Diffractive solar sail [ ] Add languages Add links * Article * Talk [ ] English * Read * Edit * View history [ ] Tools Tools move to sidebar hide Actions * Read * Edit * View history General * What links here * Related changes * Upload file * Special pages * Permanent link * Page information * Cite this page * Get shortened URL * Wikidata item Print/export * Download as PDF * Printable version From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Type of solar sail [220px-Diffractive_solar_sail_c]Concept art for a diffractive lightsail A diffractive solar sail, or diffractive lightsail, is a type of solar sail which relies on diffraction instead of reflection for its propulsion.^[1]^[2] Current diffractive sail designs use thin metamaterial films, containing micrometer-size gratings based on polarization or subwavelength refractive structures, causing light to spread out (i.e. diffract) and thereby exert radiation pressure when it passes through them.^[2]^[3] History[edit] The idea of using diffraction for a solar sail was first proposed in 2017 by researchers at the Rochester Institute of Technology.^[4] This was enabled in part by advances in material design and fabrication (particularly of gratings), and optoelectronic control.^ [5] In 2019 a diffractive solar sail project from the Rochester Institute of Technlology suggested a solar polar orbit mission with diffractive sails that could reach a higher solar inclination angle and smaller orbital radius than one with reflective sails, reaching NASA's NIAC phase II.^[1]^[2]^[6] In 2022 the NIAC project reached phase III and gained US$2 million of support from NASA, with involvement of researchers from both Johns Hopkins University and the Rochester Institute of Technology.^[7]^[8] Advantages over reflective sails[edit] Reflective solar sail designs tend to consist of large, thin reflective sheets. By the law of reflection, the forces acting on them will always be normal to the sheet surface; the sheets must therefore be tilted during navigation, which poses structure and control challenges, and reduces the power reaching the sail.^[2]^[5]^ [7] These in turn can lower reliability, increase mass, and reduce acceleration.^[2] Furthermore, reflective sails tend to absorb a reasonable proportion of the light hitting them, causing them to heat up; this can cause structural problems, particularly when the sail is repeatedly heated and then allowed to cool.^[5] Also, each photon hitting the sail is used once, i.e. it's either reflected or absorbed.^[5] On the other hand, in a diffractive sail the grating can redirect light even when the sheet directly faces the sun, allowing much more efficient control with maximum power hitting the sail.^[5]^[2] The diffractive film can be designed to allow for optoelectronic control of the gratings, thereby reducing mass and increasing reliability relative to mechanical control.^[2] Since the film is translucent, most of the light just passes through the sail, reducing overall heating.^[5] Photons can be reused: either by passing through a second diffraction grating for more thrust, or by going to a solar cell to provide electricity.^[8] References[edit] 1. ^ ^a ^b Dubill, Amber L.; Swartzlander, Grover A. (1 October 2021). "Circumnavigating the sun with diffractive solar sails". Acta Astronautica. 187: 190-195. doi:10.1016/ j.actaastro.2021.06.036. Retrieved 9 February 2023. 2. ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Hall, Loura (8 April 2019). "Diffractive Lightsails". NASA. Retrieved 9 February 2023. 3. ^ Swartzlander Jr, Grover A. (15 May 2018). "Flying on a Rainbow: A Solar-Driven Diffractive Sailcraft". arXiv:1805.05864 [ physics.pop-ph]. 4. ^ Swartzlander, Grover A. (1 June 2017). "Radiation pressure on a diffractive sailcraft". Journal of the Optical Society of America B. 34 (6): C25-C30. arXiv:1703.02940. doi:10.1364/JOSAB.34.000C25 . S2CID 118954811. Retrieved 9 February 2023. 5. ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Swartzlander, Grover. "StackPath". www.laserfocusworld.com. Retrieved 9 February 2023. 6. ^ Hall, Loura (8 April 2019). "NIAC 2019 Phase I, Phase II and Phase III Selections". NASA. Retrieved 9 February 2023. 7. ^ ^a ^b Potter, Sean (24 May 2022). "NASA-Supported Solar Sail Could Take Science to New Heights". NASA. Retrieved 9 February 2023. 8. ^ ^a ^b Sivarajah, Ilamaran; Thomson (review), Laura (29 June 2022). "The Diffractive Solar Sailing Project". AZoOptics.com. 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