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Status and summary of laser energy conversionThis paper presents a survey of the status of laser energy converters. Since the inception of these devices in the early 1970's, significant advances have been made in understanding the basic conversion processes. Numerous theoretical and experimental studies have indicated that laser energy can be converted at wavelengths from the ultraviolet to the far-infrared. These converters can be classified into five general categories: photovoltaics, heat engines, thermoelectronic, optical diode, and photochemical. The conversion can be directly into electricity (such as the photovoltaic, thermoelectronic, and optical diode) or it can go through an intermediate stage of conversion to mechanical energy, as in the heat engines. The photochemical converters result in storable energy such as hydrogen. Projected conversion efficiencies range from about 30% for the photochemical to nearly 75% for the heat engines.
Document ID
19790032622
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Lee, G.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1978
Subject Category
Lasers And Masers
Meeting Information
Meeting: Radiation energy conversion in space; Conference
Location: Moffett Field, CA
Start Date: January 26, 1978
End Date: January 28, 1978
Accession Number
79A16635
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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