Share
g it as been suggested that solar powered space ships could get a boost from a laser either on earth or in orbit around earth. the laser wou
Question
g it as been suggested that solar powered space ships could get a boost from a laser either on earth or in orbit around earth. the laser would have to be very powerful to give any measurable benefit to the ship. if the laser produces a 0.18-m diameter beam of 490-nm light, what is the minimum angular spread of the beam?
in progress
0
Physics
4 years
2021-08-31T13:08:07+00:00
2021-08-31T13:08:07+00:00 1 Answers
12 views
0
Answers ( )
Answer:
The minimum angular spread of the laser beam is 3.32 ×
radians (or 3.32 μrad).
Explanation:
The minimum angular spread of a wave is the ratio of its narrowest diameter to its wavelength.
From Rayleigh’s formula,
Angular spread = 1.22 (wavelength ÷ diameter)
= 1.22 (λ ÷ D)
Given that:
diameter, D = 0.18 m and wavelength, λ = 490 nm, then;
Angular spread of the laser beam = 1.22 (λ ÷ D)
= 1.22
= 1.22× 2.7222 ×
= 3.3211 ×
rad
The minimum angular spread of the laser beam is 3.32 ×
radians.