Laser-reactive protection of spacecraft from fine debris

An analysis is made of the optimal conditions for laser irradiation and of typical paths of man-made debris in laser-reactive protection of spacecraft. Protection is provided by the recoil momentum resulting from laser evaporation of the surface layers of a debris particle, which can change its path, thus avoiding an collision with a spacecraft. Estimates are obtained of changes in the paths of particles with a characteristic size 1 cm when they are irradiated by radiation from a laser located on the protected spacecraft moving along one of the circular orbits at altitudes of 200, 400, or 700 km above the Earth's surface.