Re: Solar powered lasers in space

On Sep 18, 1:05 pm, Willie.Moo...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

If we are to seriously consider asteroid capture, or its twin,
asteroid deflection, using sunlight, then we need lots and lots of
power. That means we'll have to dip in close to the sun - this is
several powersat generations away - and it won't be the first thing we
build.

Consider though in the far future, a thin film automated system of
cells, that use a combination of solar wind and light pressure to
navigate to a region inside the orbit of Mercury. These cells -
manufactured and sent into space - operate at a relatively high temp,
and so can withstand being a few million km from the surface of the
sun. They are stationary held above the sun by a combination light
pressure and solar wind. The cells join together to form a mat - by
self-assembly - and they coordinate with each other by all seeing the
same reference laser from the target - beamed from anywhere in the
solar system. In this way laser emitters several hundred kilometers
across - operating at 1 MW per sq meter or more - can be contemplated.

Instead of something involving lots of control electronics and
kept down to statite mass levels, I think a simple solar pumped
laser amplifier *** would be best.

Forward contemplated using fresnel lenses to collimate large solar
pumped lasers - in the TW range - to project light efficiently to
laser light sail spacecraft.

The laser amplifier *** can be integrated with a fresnel lens.
The stationkeeping and rigidity requirements for both the
amplifier and fresnel lens are quite modest.

The key to aiming and firing this laser system is a relatively
low power "seed" laser. The seed laser is a relatively small
and compact solar pumped laser, which shoots a conical
beam at the main laser amplifier/fresnel lens. The beam is
focused and aimed by moving the seed laser.

Isaac Kuo

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