High conversion efficiency solar laser pumping by a light-guide/2D-CPC cavity

A simple and efficient light-guide/2D-CPC solar pumping approach is proposed. A fused silica light-guide assembly is used to transmit 6 kW concentrated solar power from the focal spot of a large parabolic mirror to the entrance aperture of a 2D-CPC pump cavity, where a long and thin Nd:YAG rod is efficiently pumped. Numerical calculations are made for different light-guides, 2D-CPC cavities and laser rods. The laser output power is investigated through finite element analysis. With 4 mm diameter rod, the maximum calculated laser power of 75.8 W is obtained, corresponding to the conversion efficiency of more than 11 W/m². The tracking error dependent laser power losses are lower than 4%. A small scale prototype was constructed and tested, reaching 8.1 W/m² conversion efficiency.