US Patent 11060193 Method and system of laser-driven impact acceleration

A system and a method for laser-driven propulsion, comprising transferring momentum to a projectile through a low-density material at laser fluences below plasma ablation threshold, the method comprising providing a metal layer having a first surface and a second opposite surface; providing a low density layer having a first surface and a second opposite surface; positioning the low density layer with the first surface thereof in direct contact with the second surface of the metal layer; positioning a projectile on the second surface of the low density layer; and heating the metal layer with laser pulses to temperatures below the liquefaction and ionization thresholds of the metal.