"Researchers have demonstrated a new approach using lasers to propel and steer objects from a distance, potentially allowing spacecraft to reach Alpha Centauri in about 20 years."
"The developed micron-scale devices, known as 'metajets', are smaller than a human hair and move when a laser light is directed at them, showcasing a novel method of propulsion."
"The intricate patterns on the metajets, or 'metasurfaces', change how light behaves, enabling movement in all three dimensions, marking a significant advancement in propulsion technology."
"In microgravity, even a small amount of force from laser light can accumulate to create significant propulsion, similar to how solar sails utilize sunlight for movement."
Researchers at Texas A&M University have proposed a method using lasers to propel spacecraft, potentially reducing the journey to Alpha Centauri to around 20 years. They developed micron-scale devices called 'metajets' that move when exposed to laser light. These metajets utilize intricate metasurfaces to manipulate light behavior, allowing movement in three dimensions. The concept relies on the cumulative effect of small forces in microgravity, similar to solar sails that harness sunlight for propulsion.
Read at Futurism
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