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Meteorological effects on laser propagation for power transmissionAn examination of possible laser operating parameters for power transmission to earth from solar power satellites is presented, with particular attention paid to assuring optimal delivery at midlatitudes. The degradation of beam efficiency due to molecular scattering, molecular absorption, aerosol scattering, and aerosol absorption during beam propagation through the atmosphere can be alleviated by judicious choice of wavelength windows, elevating the receptor sites, using a vertical propagation path, or by hole boring, i.e., vaporizing the aerosol particles in the beam path. Analyses are given for the beam propagation through fog, haze, clouds, and snow using various transitions. Only weapons-quality lasers are seen as being capable of boring through clouds and aerosols, employing a CW beam with superimposed pulses at high power densities. It is concluded that further short wavelength transmission experiments be performed to demonstrate transmission feasibility with the CW/pulsed mode of beam propagation.
Document ID
19820048833
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Beverly, R. E., III
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1982
Publication Information
Publication: Space Solar Power Review
Volume: 3
Issue: 1, 19
Subject Category
Lasers And Masers
Accession Number
82A32368
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS8-32475
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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