Matthias Weiand

Mr. Matthias Weiand

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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7 May 2025 in Acta Astronautica
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
AMAyuto Manabe
Ayuto Manabe
KIKosuke Irie
Kosuke Irie
TNTomonori Nakatani
Tomonori Nakatani
TKTatsuki Kinoshita
Tatsuki Kinoshita
TNToshinobu Nomura
Toshinobu Nomura
YOYasuhisa Oda
Yasuhisa Oda

25 June 2025 in Aerospace
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
KIKosuke Irie
Kosuke Irie
AMAyuto Manabe
Ayuto Manabe
TNTomonori Nakatani
Tomonori Nakatani
TKTatsuki Kinoshita
Tatsuki Kinoshita
TNToshinobu Nomura
Toshinobu Nomura
OOOda Oda
Oda Oda
Millimeter-wave-supported detonation (MSD) is a unique detonation phenomenon driven by a supersonically propagating ionization front, sustained by intense millimeter-wave beams. Microwave Rocket, which utilizes MSD to generate thrust from atmospheric air in a pulse detonation engine (PDE) cycle, is a promising low-cost alternative to conventional chemical propulsion systems for space transportation. However, insufficient air intake during repetitive PDE cycles has limited achievable thrust performance. To address this issue, a model equipped with a six-stage reed valve system (36 valves in total) was developed to ensure sufficient air intake, which measured 500 mm in length, 28 mm in radius, and 539 g in weight. Launch demonstration experiments were conducted using a 170 GHz, 550 kW gyrotron developed at the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST). Continuous thrust was successfully generated by irradiating up to 50 pulses per experiment at each frequency between 75 and 150 Hz, in 25 Hz increments, corresponding duty cycles ranging from 0.09 to 0.18. A maximum thrust of 9.56 N and a momentum coupling coefficient Cm of 116 N/MW were obtained. These values represent a fourfold increase compared to previous launch experiments without reed valves, thereby demonstrating the effectiveness of the reed valve configuration in enhancing thrust performance.