Efficient solar-pumped Nd:YAG laser by a double-stage light-guide/V-groove cavity

Joana Almeida; Dawei Liang

doi:10.1117/12.892242

26 July 2011 Efficient solar-pumped Nd:YAG laser by a double-stage light-guide/V-groove cavity

Joana Almeida, Dawei Liang

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8001, International Conference on Applications of Optics and Photonics; 80014C (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.892242
Event: International Conference on Applications of Optics and Photonics, 2011, Braga, Portugal

Abstract

Since the first reported Nd:YAG solar laser, researchers have been exploiting parabolic mirrors and heliostats for enhancing laser output performance. We are now investigating the production of an efficient solar-pumped laser for the reduction of magnesium from magnesium oxide, which could be an alternative solution to fossil fuel. Therefore both high conversion efficiency and excellent beam quality are imperative. By using a single fused silica light guide of rectangular cross section, highly concentrated solar radiation at the focal spot of a stationary parabolic mirror is efficiently transferred to a water-flooded V-groove pump cavity. It allows for the double-pass absorption of pump light along a 4mm diameter, 30mm length, 1.1at% Nd:YAG rod. Optimum pumping parameters and solar laser output power are found through ZEMAX^TM non-sequential ray-tracing and LASCAD^TM laser cavity analysis. 11.0 W of multimode laser output power with excellent beam profile is numerically calculated, corresponding to 6.1W/m² collection efficiency. To validate the proposed pumping scheme, an experimental setup of the double-stage light-guide/V-groove cavity was built. 78% of highly concentrated solar radiation was efficiently transmitted by the fused silica light guide. The proposed pumping scheme can be an effective solution for enhancing solar laser performances when compared to other side-pump configurations.

Citation Download Citation

Joana Almeida and Dawei Liang "Efficient solar-pumped Nd:YAG laser by a double-stage light-guide/V-groove cavity", Proc. SPIE 8001, International Conference on Applications of Optics and Photonics, 80014C (26 July 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.892242

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KEYWORDS

Nd:YAG lasers

Absorption

Waveguides

Solar radiation

Mirrors

Silica

Magnesium

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