Solar-Pumped Liquid Lasers

Phase I will examine rare-earth salts dissolved in suitable liquids to generate high power laser beams in space. Such lasers would be immune to the catastrophic thermal fracture problems which limit the power capability of solid-state lasers. Also techniques to directly solar-pump these lasers will be studied. Phase I work will include: 1) selection of rare-earth or other trivalent metal ions and suitable solvents for laser operation; 2) study of laser process when pumped by solar radiation in space to estimate the overall laser efficiency and power capability; 3) conceptual design of a space-deployed solar concentrator for laser pumping; and 4) conceptual design of the laser system, including liquid flow and cooling system, size, weight and power requirements. A test plan will validate a prototype demonstration in Phase II using simulated solar pumping.