High-efficiency solar-pumped lasers

Solar-pumped lasers are perceived as an innovative convergence of renewable energy and laser technology. Having a long-standing history, they have been the focus of continuous research and development by various teams worldwide since the 1960s. This sustained effort has led to the recognition of sol...

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Main Authors: Dawei Liang, Hugo Costa, Bruno D. Tibúrcio, Cláudia R. Vistas, Joana Almeida
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Advances in Physics: X
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23746149.2025.2531056
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author Dawei Liang
Hugo Costa
Bruno D. Tibúrcio
Cláudia R. Vistas
Joana Almeida
author_facet Dawei Liang
Hugo Costa
Bruno D. Tibúrcio
Cláudia R. Vistas
Joana Almeida
author_sort Dawei Liang
collection DOAJ
description Solar-pumped lasers are perceived as an innovative convergence of renewable energy and laser technology. Having a long-standing history, they have been the focus of continuous research and development by various teams worldwide since the 1960s. This sustained effort has led to the recognition of solar-pumped lasers as a promising technology for the future, capable of delivering laser radiation in a cost-effective and carbon-free way, and potentially supplanting high-power lasers that rely on electricity in a multitude of applications. This paper delves into several key topics related to this field. It discusses potential applications both on Earth and in space, and traces historical progress of solid-state solar-pumped lasers – particularly those employing Nd:YAG and Ce:Nd:YAG active media, which have been pivotal in improving laser efficiency in both multimode and TEM00-mode operations. The properties of these media are also examined in detail. Furthermore, the significance of multi-thin-rod laser systems is highlighted, as they can help produce multiple high-quality laser beams, mitigate thermal load issues typically associated with solid-state lasers and compensate for solar tracking errors. Not less importantly, this paper also outlines methodologies for analyzing solar laser output power, both theoretically and numerically via simulation tools (Zemax® and LASCAD™ software).
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series Advances in Physics: X
spelling doaj-art-fd5280b3d7f848feb711e4372f2eb2762025-08-20T03:08:21ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAdvances in Physics: X2374-61492025-12-0110110.1080/23746149.2025.2531056High-efficiency solar-pumped lasersDawei Liang0Hugo Costa1Bruno D. Tibúrcio2Cláudia R. Vistas3Joana Almeida4Centre of Physics and Technological Research, Department of Physics, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Caparica, PortugalCentre of Physics and Technological Research, Department of Physics, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Caparica, PortugalCentre of Physics and Technological Research, Department of Physics, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Caparica, PortugalCentre of Physics and Technological Research, Department of Physics, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Caparica, PortugalCentre of Physics and Technological Research, Department of Physics, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Caparica, PortugalSolar-pumped lasers are perceived as an innovative convergence of renewable energy and laser technology. Having a long-standing history, they have been the focus of continuous research and development by various teams worldwide since the 1960s. This sustained effort has led to the recognition of solar-pumped lasers as a promising technology for the future, capable of delivering laser radiation in a cost-effective and carbon-free way, and potentially supplanting high-power lasers that rely on electricity in a multitude of applications. This paper delves into several key topics related to this field. It discusses potential applications both on Earth and in space, and traces historical progress of solid-state solar-pumped lasers – particularly those employing Nd:YAG and Ce:Nd:YAG active media, which have been pivotal in improving laser efficiency in both multimode and TEM00-mode operations. The properties of these media are also examined in detail. Furthermore, the significance of multi-thin-rod laser systems is highlighted, as they can help produce multiple high-quality laser beams, mitigate thermal load issues typically associated with solid-state lasers and compensate for solar tracking errors. Not less importantly, this paper also outlines methodologies for analyzing solar laser output power, both theoretically and numerically via simulation tools (Zemax® and LASCAD™ software).https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23746149.2025.2531056Solar-pumped lasermultimodeTEM00-modeNd:YAGCe:Nd:YAGsolar tracking error
spellingShingle Dawei Liang
Hugo Costa
Bruno D. Tibúrcio
Cláudia R. Vistas
Joana Almeida
High-efficiency solar-pumped lasers
Advances in Physics: X
Solar-pumped laser
multimode
TEM00-mode
Nd:YAG
Ce:Nd:YAG
solar tracking error
title High-efficiency solar-pumped lasers
title_full High-efficiency solar-pumped lasers
title_fullStr High-efficiency solar-pumped lasers
title_full_unstemmed High-efficiency solar-pumped lasers
title_short High-efficiency solar-pumped lasers
title_sort high efficiency solar pumped lasers
topic Solar-pumped laser
multimode
TEM00-mode
Nd:YAG
Ce:Nd:YAG
solar tracking error
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23746149.2025.2531056
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AT brunodtiburcio highefficiencysolarpumpedlasers
AT claudiarvistas highefficiencysolarpumpedlasers
AT joanaalmeida highefficiencysolarpumpedlasers