Total Internal Reflection End-Pumped Solar Laser with the Solar-to-Laser Conversion Efficiency of 6.09%

A novel total internal reflection solar end-pumped laser system has been introduced for the first time, aimed at enhancing the solar-to-laser conversion efficiency. Utilizing a conical solid or cavity reflector, this system refocuses sunlight from a 0.2818 <inline-formula><math display=&quo...

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Main Authors: Lin Wang, Haiyang Zhang, Dário Garcia, Weichen Xu, Changming Zhao, Anran Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4033
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author Lin Wang
Haiyang Zhang
Dário Garcia
Weichen Xu
Changming Zhao
Anran Guo
author_facet Lin Wang
Haiyang Zhang
Dário Garcia
Weichen Xu
Changming Zhao
Anran Guo
author_sort Lin Wang
collection DOAJ
description A novel total internal reflection solar end-pumped laser system has been introduced for the first time, aimed at enhancing the solar-to-laser conversion efficiency. Utilizing a conical solid or cavity reflector, this system refocuses sunlight from a 0.2818 <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow><mo>m</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> parabolic mirror into a single Ce (0.05 at.%): Nd (1 at.%): YAG crystal rod, measuring 4 mm in diameter and 10 mm in length, thereby promoting total internal reflection and extending the pumping path. Simulation results indicate that under the same solar input power conditions (249.05 W), the conversion efficiencies of the conical solid reflector and cavity reflector systems are 1.2 times and 1.33 times higher than the current highest recorded efficiency of single-rod systems, respectively. At 950 <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow><mo>W/m</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>, the conical reflector reaches 5.48% efficiency, while the cavity reflector attains 6.09%. Their collection efficiencies are 52.03 <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow><mo>W/m</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> and 57.90 <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow><mo>W/m</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>, with slope efficiencies of 6.65% and 7.72%.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1996-1073
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Energies
spelling doaj-art-7e1db07f032a4154b39282f540d08f822025-08-20T03:36:40ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-07-011815403310.3390/en18154033Total Internal Reflection End-Pumped Solar Laser with the Solar-to-Laser Conversion Efficiency of 6.09%Lin Wang0Haiyang Zhang1Dário Garcia2Weichen Xu3Changming Zhao4Anran Guo5School of Optics and Photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, ChinaSchool of Optics and Photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, ChinaSchool of Optics and Photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, ChinaSchool of Optics and Photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, ChinaSchool of Optics and Photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, ChinaSchool of Optics and Photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, ChinaA novel total internal reflection solar end-pumped laser system has been introduced for the first time, aimed at enhancing the solar-to-laser conversion efficiency. Utilizing a conical solid or cavity reflector, this system refocuses sunlight from a 0.2818 <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow><mo>m</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> parabolic mirror into a single Ce (0.05 at.%): Nd (1 at.%): YAG crystal rod, measuring 4 mm in diameter and 10 mm in length, thereby promoting total internal reflection and extending the pumping path. Simulation results indicate that under the same solar input power conditions (249.05 W), the conversion efficiencies of the conical solid reflector and cavity reflector systems are 1.2 times and 1.33 times higher than the current highest recorded efficiency of single-rod systems, respectively. At 950 <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow><mo>W/m</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>, the conical reflector reaches 5.48% efficiency, while the cavity reflector attains 6.09%. Their collection efficiencies are 52.03 <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow><mo>W/m</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> and 57.90 <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow><mo>W/m</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula>, with slope efficiencies of 6.65% and 7.72%.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4033solar-pumped laserlaser efficiencytotal internal reflectionparabolic mirror
spellingShingle Lin Wang
Haiyang Zhang
Dário Garcia
Weichen Xu
Changming Zhao
Anran Guo
Total Internal Reflection End-Pumped Solar Laser with the Solar-to-Laser Conversion Efficiency of 6.09%
Energies
solar-pumped laser
laser efficiency
total internal reflection
parabolic mirror
title Total Internal Reflection End-Pumped Solar Laser with the Solar-to-Laser Conversion Efficiency of 6.09%
title_full Total Internal Reflection End-Pumped Solar Laser with the Solar-to-Laser Conversion Efficiency of 6.09%
title_fullStr Total Internal Reflection End-Pumped Solar Laser with the Solar-to-Laser Conversion Efficiency of 6.09%
title_full_unstemmed Total Internal Reflection End-Pumped Solar Laser with the Solar-to-Laser Conversion Efficiency of 6.09%
title_short Total Internal Reflection End-Pumped Solar Laser with the Solar-to-Laser Conversion Efficiency of 6.09%
title_sort total internal reflection end pumped solar laser with the solar to laser conversion efficiency of 6 09
topic solar-pumped laser
laser efficiency
total internal reflection
parabolic mirror
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4033
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AT dariogarcia totalinternalreflectionendpumpedsolarlaserwiththesolartolaserconversionefficiencyof609
AT weichenxu totalinternalreflectionendpumpedsolarlaserwiththesolartolaserconversionefficiencyof609
AT changmingzhao totalinternalreflectionendpumpedsolarlaserwiththesolartolaserconversionefficiencyof609
AT anranguo totalinternalreflectionendpumpedsolarlaserwiththesolartolaserconversionefficiencyof609