Power transmission using a solar-pumped laser

A lab simulation which demonstrates the power beaming concept, based on solar pumped laser and photovoltaic cell, was performed. The simulation included a parabolic dish, a 3D CPC, a 2D CPC as a laser head for transmission and a photovoltaic cell for converting the laser light into electricity. A waveguide was used in order to obtain a uniform illumination upon the photovoltaic cell. A Nd:YAG laser rod was solar pumped using imaging and nonimaging systems producing 52 Watt laser at sun flux of 830 Watt/m2. In successive experiments the solar cell was exposed to a laser light using Nd:YAG and Alexandrite lasers. The efficiencies achieved were 33% laser to electricity efficiency for the Nd:YAG laser and approximately 40% for the Alexandrite.