Scientists from the Korea University of Science and Technology and Harvard University believe that the laser-sail nanoship, which is planned to be sent to Alpha Centauri, will deviate from its intended course due to rotation. The corresponding research preprint is available in the editorial office of Lenta.ru.
According to scientists' calculations, due to the rotation, the ship will deviate from the calculated position, upon reaching Alpha Centauri, by more than 20 solar radii. Accurate estimates depend on the parameters of the interstellar medium and the structure of the spacecraft.
Experts see the reason for the rotation in the collision of the nano-apparatus with charged particles of the interstellar medium, as a result of which the surface of the probe will acquire a non-zero electric charge and, as a result, secondary electron emission will occur from it. The authors believe that the electrically charged probe will also rotate when it enters a magnetic field, the period of such rotation is estimated at 30-60 minutes.
Experts propose to take these effects into account when designing a nanoship with laser sails.
In April 2016, Russian businessman Yuri Milner and British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking announced the start of work on creating and sending a satellite to Alpha Centauri. The project actually copies the DE-STAR (Directed Energy System for Targeting of Asteroids and ExploRation) system, which NASA has been working on for the past several years.
