FALCON nuclear-reactor-pumped laser program and wireless power transmission
FALCON is a high-power, reactor-pumped laser concept. The major strengths of a reactor-pumped laser are (1) simple, modular construction, (2) long-duration, closed-cycle capability, (3) self-contained power, (4) compact size, and (5) a variety of wavelengths (from visible to infrared). Reactor-pumped lasing has been demonstrated experimentally in various mixtures of xenon, argon, neon, and helium at wavelengths of 585, 703, 725, 1271, 1733, 1792, 2032, 2630, 2650, and 3370 nm with intrinsic efficiency as high as 2.5%. Powers up to 300 W for 2 ms have been demonstrated. Projected beam quality for FALCON is good enough that frequency doubling at reasonable efficiencies could be expected to yield wavelengths at 353, 363, 636, 867, 896, 1016, 1315, 1325, and 1685 nm. Appropriate missions for FALCON are described and include power beaming to satellites, the moon, and unmanned surveillance planes; lunar mapping; space debris removal; and laser propulsion.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6722907
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-92-1973C; CONF-930258-1; ON: DE93007607
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1. annual wireless power transmission conference, San Antonio, TX (United States), 23-25 Feb 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
DOE reactor-pumped laser program
DOE reactor-pumped laser program
Related Subjects
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
FISSION FRAGMENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
GAS LASERS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
EFFICIENCY
EXCITATION
LASER POWER TRANSMISSION
MAPPING
MOON
OPTICAL PUMPING
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
RARE GASES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
FLUIDS
GASES
LASERS
NONMETALS
NUCLEAR FRAGMENTS
POWER TRANSMISSION
PUMPING
SATELLITES
426002* - Engineering- Lasers & Masers- (1990-)
450000 - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense