Choijil Baasandash

High-efficiency and economical solar-energy-pumped laser with Fresnel lens and chromium codoped laser medium

The authors achieved 11%–14% slope efficiency of solar-pumped laser by Cr-codoped Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet ceramic and Fresnel lens focusing from natural sunlight. The laser output of 24.4W was achieved with 1.3m2 Fresnel lens. The maximum output for unit area of sunlight was 18.7W∕m2, which is 2.8 times larger than previous results with mirror collector. The utilization of Cr3+ ion enabled efficient absorption and energy transfer to Nd3+ ion of solar spectrum. The fluorescence yield at 1064nm for various pumping wavelengths was measured both for Crcodoped and nondoped laser media, and 1.8 times enhancement of laser output from sunlight is predicted.

Demonstrated fossil-fuel-free energy cycle using magnesium and laser

The authors propose an energy cycle based on a renewable fuel. Magnesium is chosen as an energy carrier and is combusted with water to retrieve energy using many power devices. MgO, the combustion residue, is reduced back to Mg by laser radiation generated from solar and other renewable energy sources. They have achieved an energy recovery efficiency of 42.5% for converting MgO to magnesium, using a laser. Combined with a demonstrated 38% efficiency for converting an artificial sunlight source (metal halide lamp) into laser output energy indicates that the proposed energy cycle is already in a feasible range for practical use.

Microairplane propelled by laser driven exotic target

We propose a propulsion concept to drive a microairplane by laser that can be used for observation of climate and volcanic eruption. Since it does not have to develop thrust for vertical takeoff, and it has no engine in the normal sense, the microairplane can be very light, with its payload consisting only of observation and communication equipment. In order to demonstrate the concept, we succeeded in flying a paper microairplane driven by a 590 mJ, 5 ns pulse yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser that impinges on a double-layer “exotic target.” The coupling efficiency agrees well with simulations and with experiments.

Solar-pumped 80 W laser irradiated by a Fresnel lens

A solar-pumped 100 W class laser that features high efficiency and low cost owing to the use of a Fresnel lens and a chromium codoped neodymium YAG ceramic laser medium was developed. A laser output of about 80 W was achieved with combination of a 4 m(2) Fresnel lens and a pumping cavity as a secondary power concentrator. This output corresponds to 4.3% of conversion efficiency from solar power into laser, and the maximum output from a unit area of Fresnel lens was 20 W/m(2), which is 2.8 times larger than previous results with mirror-type concentrator.

100 W-class solar pumped laser for sustainable magnesium-hydrogen energy cycle

A solar pumped laser system with 7%–9% slope efficiencies has been developed. A Fresnel lens (2×2 m, f=2000 mm) is mounted on a two-axis sun tracker platform and focuses solar radiation toward laser cavity, which embraces Cr:Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet ceramic rod. The maximum emitted laser power is 80 W corresponding to maximum total area performance of 20 W/m2 for the Fresnel lens area. This solar laser system would be used as a section of power plant in a magnesium energy cycle as a cost-efficient solar energy converter. Using direct solar radiation into laser, 4.3% net conversion efficiency has been achieved.

Noncatalytic dissociation of MgO by laser pulses towards sustainable energy cycle

We succeeded in dissociating MgO using laser pulses without a reducing agent. The energy efficiency from laser to magnesium reaction energy exceeded 42.5%. Although 1kW CO2 cw laser and Nd-YAG pulse laser are used in this experiment, the laser can be pumped by natural resources such as solar light or wind power. Thus natural resources are stored in the form of magnesium, which can be used through the reaction with water whenever we need the energy, and thus a renewable energy system will be established. This paper reports the preliminary experiments of MgO reduction toward a sustainable energy cycle.

Laser-induced magnesium production from magnesium oxide using reducing agents

Experiments for laser induced production of magnesium (Mg) from magnesium oxide (MgO) using reducing agents (R) were conducted. In these experiments, continuous wave CO2 focused laser is focused on a mixture of magnesium oxide and reducing agent. High power density of focused laser leads to high temperature and the reduction reaction resulting in Mg production. The resultant vapor is collected on a copper plate and analyzed in terms of magnesium deposition efficiency. Deposition efficiencies with various reducing agents such as Zr, C, and Si have been measured to be 60, 9.2, and 12.1 mg/kJ respectively. An excess addition of reducing agent over their corresponding reaction stoichiometric amounts is found to be optimum condition for the most of performed laser induced reactions. In addition, utilizing solar-pumped laser in Mg production with reducing agent will reduce CO2 emission and produce magnesium with high-energy efficiency and large throughput.

Simulation and Experiments on Laser Propulsion by Water Cannon Target

In previous papers, we reported the successful flight of paper‐airplane about 5 cm. Application of such micro‐airplane to CO2 measurement and tornado observation is proposed. For practical application, repetitive water supply system and levitation system are proposed and examined by experiments. The latter can also be used for launching waste of nuclear reactor and structural materials for space station. Some future applications like stratospheric airplane and microship in human blood vessel are discussed.

Laser-induced Mg production from magnesium oxide using Si-based agents and Si-based agents recycling

We succeeded in laser-induced magnesium (Mg) production from magnesium oxide (MgO) using Si-based agents, silicon (Si) and silicon monoxide (SiO). In these experiments, a cw CO2 laser irradiated a mixture of Mg and Si-based agents. Both experimental studies and theoretical analysis help not only understand the function of reducing agents but also optimize Mg extraction in laser-induced Mg production. The optimal energy efficiencies 12.1 mg/kJ and 4.5 mg/kJ of Mg production were achieved using Si and SiO, respectively. Besides, the possibility of recycling Si and SiO was preliminarily investigated without reducing agents but only with laser-irradiation. As for the Si-based agents recycling, we succeed in removing 36 mol % of oxygen fraction from SiO2, obtaining 0.7 mg/kJ of Si production efficiency as well as 15.6 mg/kJ of SiO one at the same time. In addition, the laser irradiation to MgO-SiO mixture produced 24 mg/kJ of Si with more than 99% purity.

Laser Propulsion Using Metal‐Free Water Cannon Target

We have shown that a metal target covered with water, Water Cannon target (WC), provides higher Cm than a pure metal target. We improved repetitive water supply system and succeeded in driving a miniature car of 70g weight by only 1.4J YAG laser. Then we invented new target, Metal Free Water Cannon target (MFWC) which can be driven into any direction. In addition, we improved it and invented Water Film Cannon (WFC). Cm of 3680[N.s/MJ] was achieved with WFC. By using this system, we propose a piston engine and vertical launch system. We also examined a similar propulsion system with CO2 laser and found some enhancement with water cannon.