Solar sails are of great promise for space exploration, affording missions that push the limits of the possible. They enable a variety of novel science missions ranging from ultrafast interstellar travel to imaging the poles of the sun—missions that are beyond the reach of current propulsion technology. Here, we describe requirements and challenges associated with optical materials and photonic designs facing the next generation of solar sails. A technology development roadmap is outlined to guide researchers in pioneering the space faring future.

中文翻译：

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星际太阳能航行的光子材料

太阳帆对于太空探索具有巨大的希望，其任务将推动可能的极限。它们可以执行各种新颖的科学任务，从超快的星际旅行到成像太阳两极，这些任务都是当前推进技术无法实现的。在这里，我们描述了与面向下一代太阳帆的光学材料和光子设计相关的要求和挑战。概述了技术发展路线图，以指导研究人员开拓太空远景。