NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Diode laser power module for beamed power transmissionRecent progress with powerful, efficient, and coherent monolithic diode master-oscillator/power-amplifier (M-MOPA) systems is promising for the development of a space-based diode laser power station. A conceptual design of a 50-kW diode laser power module was made for space-based power stations capable of beaming coherent power to the moon, Martian rovers, or other satellites. The laser diode power module consists of a solar photovoltaic array or nuclear power source, diode laser arrays (LDAs), a phase controller, beam-steering optics, a thermal management unit, and a radiator. Thermal load management and other relevant aspects of the system (such as power requirements and system mass) are considered. The 50-kW power module described includes the highest available efficiency of LD M-MOPA system to date. However, the overall efficiency of three amplifier stages, including the coupling efficiency, turns out to be 55.5 percent. Though a chain of PA stages generates a high-power coherent beam, there is a penalty due to the coupling loss between stages. The specific power of the 50-kW module using solar power is 6.58 W/kg.
Document ID
19920067994
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Choi, S. H.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Williams, M. D.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Lee, J. H.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Conway, E. J.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1991
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Meeting Information
Meeting: IECEC ''91: Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
Location: Boston, MA
Country: United States
Start Date: August 4, 1991
End Date: August 9, 1991
Accession Number
92A50618
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available