Finding gravitational waves is as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.
A century ago, Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves according to general relativity. However, it was not until 20 15 that LIGO detected the gravitational wave signal on the ground. Three American scientists also won the 20 17 Nobel Prize in Physics.
It is also generally believed in the world that as long as someone can detect gravitational waves in space and obtain gravitational wave signals in more frequency bands, they can also win the Nobel Prize.
Why is it so difficult to detect gravitational waves? Gravitational waves are ripples in time and space caused by the violent movement and change of matter and energy. They squeeze or stretch space-time in the process of propagation, just like ripples on the water surface, and spread outward at the speed of light. The gravitational wave signal in space is very weak. At present, the best way is to use optical devices to capture gravitational waves by detecting the distance change between two free-floating objects that are millions of kilometers apart.
Using high-speed jet ions as satellite launch power
As the name implies, RF ion engines rely on absorbing RF energy? A device that maintains its plasma self-sustaining discharge and generates thrust.
Plasma is the fourth familiar state of matter in nature, which can be seen everywhere in our lives, such as fluorescent lamp, neon lamp, xenon lamp and lightning. It is an ionized "gas" composed of ions, electrons and ionized neutral particles. It is electrically neutral as a whole, but it has conductive characteristics.
The RF ion engine will absorb and accelerate the positively charged ions in the plasma through the high-voltage electric field, and discharge at the speed of tens of kilometers per second. According to Newton's third law, ions injected at high speed will generate reverse thrust, thus pushing the satellite forward. When the engine ejects ions, a device (neutralizer) that can eject electrons is needed to neutralize the ejected ions, otherwise the spacecraft will be charged and the safety of the spacecraft will be endangered.
Relevant experts of Chinese Academy of Sciences have made a lot of achievements.
The research and development team of micro-ion engine products of Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences has conducted in-depth research on the working principle of RF ion engine system for five years. Circuit impedance matching, RF inductive coupling discharge and the final RF ion engine can work stably, and every detail of components has been carefully considered.
In 20 15, the first RF ion engine RIT-4 developed by the team was successfully ignited. Since then, the research team has developed a series of RF ion engine prototypes according to different thrust ranges, and developed RIT-2, RIT-2.5 and RIT-5 respectively.
Relying on the research foundation of RF ion engine for many years and valuable aviation engineering experience, the R&D team undertook the important task of developing the RF ion micro-propulsion system of Taiji-1 satellite in August 20 18, with a time limit of one year.
Traditional space missions usually take three to five years or even longer. It takes one year to directly complete the flight prototype that meets the aerospace standard of the immature prototype, which is a very difficult task for the R&D team with limited personnel.
However, for the development of China's space industry and the smooth implementation of the national major gravitational wave detection project, the microgravity key laboratory of the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences resolutely accepted this almost impossible task.