A sunny solution

Graydon, Oliver

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2007.155

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…5 It has also large potential on terrestrial applications, such as laser material processing and renewable energy cycles. [6][7][8] For solar-pumped laser to be an alternative renewable energy system in many scientific and industrial applications, the pursuit of highly efficient solar lasers with high-beam quality is essential.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seven-rod pumping concept for simultaneous emission of seven TEM00-mode solar laser beams

et al. 2020

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In present-day single-rod/single-beam solar laser systems, the thermal lens effect is a serious issue that limits its ability for a scale-up to higher powers and improved beam quality. Aiming at resolving this shortcoming, the concept of a seven-rod/seven-beam solar pumping scheme is proposed. This scheme was composed of a first-stage heliostat-parabolic mirror system and a single large laser head. The large laser head consisted of seven fused silica compound parabolic concentrators, which transmitted and focused the concentrated solar radiation to each single-laser rod of small diameter, within a conical cavity, which enabled multiple passages of the pump rays. Consequently, each laser rod was pumped by only one-seventh of the total concentrated solar power, ensuring a significant reduction of the thermal induced effects in the laser rods. 13.3 W∕m 2 TEM 00 -mode solar laser collection efficiency was numerically achieved, representing an enhancement of 1.68 times over the experimental record from a single-rod prototype. 1.80 times improvement in solar-to-TEM 00 -mode laser power conversion efficiency was also registered in relation to the previous experimental record.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seven-rod pumping concept for simultaneous emission of seven TEM00-mode solar laser beams

et al. 2020

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“…They are especially suited for space-based applications wherein extended run times are required and compactness, reliability, and efficiency are critical, including wireless power transmission [1], deep-space optical communications [2], laser propulsion [3], and asteroid deflection [4]. In addition, its use can be of value for terrestrial applications, in fields such as thermochemistry and materials processing [5][6][7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zigzag Multirod Laser Beam Merging Approach for Brighter TEM00-Mode Solar Laser Emission from a Megawatt Solar Furnace

Costa¹,

Almeida²,

Liang³

et al. 2021

Energies

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An alternative multirod solar laser end-side-pumping concept, based on the megawatt solar furnace in France, is proposed to significantly improve the TEM00-mode solar laser output power level and its beam brightness through a novel zigzag beam merging technique. A solar flux homogenizer was used to deliver nearly the same pump power to multiple core-doped Nd:YAG laser rods within a water-cooled pump cavity through a fused silica window. Compared to the previous multibeam solar laser station concepts for the same solar furnace, the present approach can allow the production of high-power TEM00-mode solar laser beams with high beam brightness. An average of 1.06 W TEM00-mode laser power was numerically extracted from each of 1657 rods, resulting in a total of 1.8 kW. More importantly, by mounting 399 rods at a 30° angle of inclination and employing the beam merging technique, a maximum of 5.2 kW total TEM00-mode laser power was numerically extracted from 37 laser beams, averaging 141 W from each merged beam. The highest solar laser beam brightness figure of merit achieved was 148 W, corresponding to an improvement of 23 times in relation to the previous experimental record.

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“…This makes solar lasers potentially well suited for space-based applications, including deep-space optical communications [3], solar power transmission [4], laser propulsion [5], and asteroid deflection [6]. Additionally, they can be a valuable asset for industries that depend on materials processing at high temperatures [7][8][9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Doughnut-Shaped and Top Hat Solar Laser Beams Numerical Analysis

et al. 2021

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Aside from the industry-standard Gaussian intensity profile, top hat and non-conventional laser beam shapes, such as doughnut-shaped profile, are ever more required. The top hat laser beam profile is well-known for uniformly irradiating the target material, significantly reducing the heat-affected zones, typical of Gaussian laser irradiation, whereas the doughnut-shaped laser beam has attracted much interest for its use in trapping particles at the nanoscale and improving mechanical performance during laser-based 3D metal printing. Solar-pumped lasers can be a cost-effective and more sustainable alternative to accomplish these useful laser beam distributions. The sunlight was collected and concentrated by six primary Fresnel lenses, six folding mirror collectors, further compressed with six secondary fused silica concentrators, and symmetrically distributed by six twisted light guides around a 5.5 mm diameter, 35 mm length Nd:YAG rod inside a cylindrical cavity. A top hat laser beam profile (Mx2 = 1.25, My2 = 1.00) was computed through both ZEMAX® and LASCAD® analysis, with 9.4 W/m2 TEM00 mode laser power collection and 0.99% solar-to-TEM00 mode power conversion efficiencies. By using a 5.8 mm laser rod diameter, a doughnut-shaped solar laser beam profile (Mx2 = 1.90, My2 = 1.00) was observed. The 9.8 W/m2 TEM00 mode laser power collection and 1.03% solar-to-TEM00 mode power conversion efficiencies were also attained, corresponding to an increase of 2.2 and 1.9 times, respectively, compared to the state-of-the-art experimental records. As far as we know, the first numerical simulation of doughnut-shaped and top hat solar laser beam profiles is reported here, significantly contributing to the understanding of the formation of such beam profiles.

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A sunny solution

Cited by 16 publications

References 5 publications

Seven-rod pumping concept for simultaneous emission of seven TEM00-mode solar laser beams

Seven-rod pumping concept for simultaneous emission of seven TEM00-mode solar laser beams

Zigzag Multirod Laser Beam Merging Approach for Brighter TEM00-Mode Solar Laser Emission from a Megawatt Solar Furnace

Doughnut-Shaped and Top Hat Solar Laser Beams Numerical Analysis

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