A Solar-Pumped cw 18 W Nd:YAG Laser

Abstract
The development of a solar-pumped Nd:YAG laser is reported. A solar energy collector consisting of a paraboloidal mirror 10 m in aperture and 3.2 m in focal length is used to pump a water-cooled Nd:YAG laser rod 4 mm in diameter and 75 mm in length. The maximum output of the laser is 18 W in multi-mode, the highest output power reported so far in solar-pumped lasers. Further improvements designed to increase the power are also discussed.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: