Direct conversion of plasma energy into mechanical energy for driving turbines and vibrating or reciprocating motors using microwave and laser plasma energy sources

In this paper we study and achieve direct conversion of microwave and laser plasma energy into mechanical work. The energy given off in a beam-produced plasma to the surrounding gas heats up the gas, which expands and flows outward in response to the pressure buildup; this effect has been exploited in microwave and laser driven jet engines. We use a laser plasma to produce other kinds of motion (to drive turbines, vibrators, pistons). The work in this case is done by the force acting on a surface as the plasma forms. (AIP)