2005 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe

Sun-Pumped Nd:YAG Laser with Excellent Tracking Error Compensation Capacity

Dawei Liang Pedro Bernardes and Rui Martins CEFITEC, Departamento de Fisica, FCT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2825, Campus de Caparica, Portugal

Abstract:
A square light guide was used to transmit and homogenize the concentrated solar energy to a fused silica APC-CPC cavity fabricated directly on the guide output end. The laser power was insensitive to tracking errors.

Summary:
The Sun-pumped solid-state laser is much simpler and more reliable due to the complete elimination of the electrical power generation and power conditioning equipments. Space-based applications for solar lasers hold the most promise. To maximize the solar radiation that impinges on the laser crystal, a 2-D CPC (Compound Parabolic Concentrator) is usually used in the Sun-pumped laser because it wraps the solar radiation incident on its aperture around the laser rod and gives an additional concentration. It was found that the 2D-CPC solar lasers have additional problems not seen in commercial lasers. The resonator stability depends on how well the Sun is tracked. Heliostat tracking displacements move the centre of the absorption distribution inside the laser crystal, resulting both in less output power and a non-uniform beam profile.
To overcome this problem, a fused silica light guide of 14mm x 14mm cross section was used to both transmit and homogenize the concentrated solar energy from the focus of a primary parabolic mirror to a fused silica APC' (Averaging Pump Cavity)-CPC light funnel pump cavity polished directly from the output end of the light guide (Fig.l). The light guide was long enough to ensure good beam uniformity. It was found that the uniform intensity profile was insensitive to the slight dislocation ofthe focal light spot of the primary mirror, caused by tracking errors. With this unique light guide, the concentrated sunlight was efficiently transmitted and highly concentrated to a laser crystal. As compared to conventional 2D-CPC cavities, the solar concentration was largely enhanced due to the dielectric APC on one side and the CPC light funnel on the other sides of the pump cavity. The flooded cavity design has also ensured both an efficient cooling to the laser crystal and the external aluminized surfaces of the pump cavity.

Fig. I - Square light guide with APC-CPC funnel pump cavity.

For the solar power of 1240W from the primary concentrator, about 500W was considered being absorbed by the Nd:YAG crystal of 4mm in diameter. With an output-coupling ratio of 94%, 11W of laser power was measured, much stable than our previous homemade solar laser by optical fibers2.

Fig. 2 - The laser head

References: 1. R. John Koshel and t. A. Walmsley, "Non-edge-ray design: improves optical pumping of lasers", Optical Engineering, Vol.43, No.7, July, 2004, pp.151 1-1521 2. R. Martins, R. Mota, P. Bernardes and D. Liang, "Side-Pumped Solar Laser by Optical Fibers", Technical Digest Series of CLEO/ Europe-EQEC, June, CA6T, pp.93, 2003

0-7803-8974-3/05/$20.00 2005 IEEE

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