Electromagnetic energy beam angular momentum engine: self-propulsion of energy beam source via application of conservation of angular momentum

A method of controlled self-propulsion by a laser energy beam source via application of conservation of angular momentum comprising the steps of:

• rotating a housing that is associated with an optical-mechanism system, the housing including the laser energy beam source that emits a first light beam;
• splitting the first light beam with a first beam splitter into a second light beam and a third light beam, the first beam splitter being axially movable along a first axis;
• using an axially movable first optical arrangement to direct the third light beam to travel in an equilateral triangular path that approximates a circular orbit defined by a circular orbit radius, the axially movable first optic arrangement including a second beam splitter and a first mirror, a second mirror and a third mirror;
• causing the third light beam to travel in shrinking orbits defined by equilateral paths;
• and
• after reaching a desired final radius which is less than an initial radius, recombining the third light beam with the second light beam by redirecting the third light beam to the second light beam with a fixed second optical arrangement including a third mirror and a fourth mirror and a third beam splitter.

An optical mechanical system for controlled movement of a solid object, comprising:

• a rotatable housing;
• an axially movable high energy laser light source coupled to the rotatable housing and configured to emit a first light beam along a first path;
• a stationary first beam splitter disposed along the first path for splitting the first light beam into a second light beam and a third light beam;
• and
• a means for causing the third light beam to travel in a first path, as an approximation of a circular path of initial radius RI, and of decreasing radius, the means comprising:
• a stationary second beam splitter, a fiber optic cable along which the third light beam travels, the fiber optic cable being arranged in a helical shape, and a stationary third beam splitter disposed at one end of the rotatable housing and configured to recombine the second light beam with the third light beam;
• wherein the optical mechanical system causes the axially movable high energy laser light source to move axially opposite a direction of the first light beam.

A system for controlled movement of a solid object, comprising:

• a group of optical mechanical systems, wherein the group of optical mechanical systems makes up at least a portion of the solid object, each optical mechanical system of the group of optical mechanical systems comprising:
• a rotatable housing;
• an axially movable high energy laser light source coupled to the rotatable housing and configured to emit a first light beam along a first path;
• a stationary first beam splitter disposed along the first path for splitting the first light beam into a second light beam and a third light beam;
• and a means for causing the third light beam to travel in another path which is as an approximation of a circular path of initial radius RI, and of decreasing radius, the means comprising:
• a stationary second beam splitter, a fiber optic cable along which the third light beam travels, the fiber optic cable being arranged in a helical shape, and a stationary third beam splitter disposed at one end of the rotatable housing and configured to recombine the second light beam with the third light beam;
• wherein the system causes the axially movable high energy laser light source to move axially opposite a beam direction of the first light beam, and
• wherein the group of optical mechanical systems is arranged in a circular formation, wherein each optical mechanical system of the group of optical mechanical systems further comprises:
• a respective gimbal;
• wherein each respective gimbal is operatively connected to a circular frame, whereby each optical mechanical system of the group of optical mechanical systems can selectively rotate about the respective gimbal;
• and
• wherein each optical mechanical system in the group of optical mechanical systems can be rotated in unison in a selected direction to control a movement direction of the solid object.