A path to renewable Mg reduction from MgO by a continuous-wave Cr:Nd:YAG ceramic solar laser

TitleA path to renewable Mg reduction from MgO by a continuous-wave Cr:Nd:YAG ceramic solar laser
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsOliveira M a, Liang D a, Almeida J a, Vistas CR a, Gonçalves F a, Martins R b
JournalSolar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Volume155
Pagination430-435
ISSN09270248
KeywordsAblation, Ceramic materials, Collection areas, Continuous Wave, Continuous wave lasers, Laser ablation, Laser beams, Magnesia, Magnesium, Magnesium printing plates, Magnesium production, Nd: YAG, Neodymium lasers, Parabolic mirrors, Pumping (laser), Solar energy, Solar energy collections, Solar lasers, Solar-pumped lasers
Abstract

The first successful ablation of magnesium oxide through a home-made continuous-wave Cr:Nd:YAG ceramic solar laser is reported. A stationary heliostat-parabolic mirror solar energy collection and concentration system was used. A stable continuous-wave laser output power of 19.2 W was attained with laser beam brightness figure of merit 7.6 times higher than that of the previous scheme, enabling therefore the direct ablation of pure magnesium by our solar-pumped laser with only 1.6 m2 effective collection area. This could be an important step towards renewable magnesium production, offering multiple advantages, such as reducing agent avoidance, in relation to that of the previous Fresnel lens Cr:Nd:YAG continuous-wave solar laser system. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.

URLhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84978107440&doi=10.1016%2fj.solmat.2016.06.046&partnerID=40&md5=060c0d8796f5b1a2a04903050a1d4365
DOI10.1016/j.solmat.2016.06.046