Direct radiation pressure measurements for lightsail membranes - Nature Photonics
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Simultaneous measurements of the optical force and power exerted by a collimated laser beam on a 50-nm-thick silicon nitride lightsail membrane suspended by compliant micromechanical springs quantify the radiation pressure, enabling further multiphysics studies of radiation pressure forces on macroscopic objects.
The original post: /r/science by /u/chrisdh79 on 2025-02-01 17:14:05.

Original Title: Lightsail propulsion could enable interstellar travel at speeds never before imagined | The Breakthrough Starshot Initiative — backed by theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and scientist Yuri Milner — aims to send miniature spacecraft to Alpha Centauri, our nearest star system.