Orbiting Space Power Systems Would Convert Sunlight into Laser Beams
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 09. 7.07
While the rest of the world (save for the Indians) has been busy focusing on mainly terrestrial-based solar energy alternatives, the Japanese have been looking to the heavens to find a potential solution. Scientists from the Institute of Laser Engineering at Osaka University and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have just developed a new technology for converting sunlight into laser beams — a technology that could form the basis for JAXA's Space Solar Power Systems (SSPS) project.
The SSPS project seeks to put a prototype space-based power system in orbit — 22,400 mi (36,000 km) above the equator — with the goal of harnessing the sun's energy to produce laser beams that would generate electricity or hydrogen on Earth through the intermediary of a terrestrial power station. The lasers — using plates built from a ceramic material containing chromium, which can absorb sunlight, and neodymium, which converts it into laser beams — outperformed earlier technologies four times over, demonstrating a solar-to-laser energy conversion efficiency of 42%.
The main advantage of using space-based power systems over terrestrial ones is that the former will not be subject to cloudy conditions or nighttime darkness, allowing them to collect solar energy 24 hours a day. The researchers estimate that a single satellite-mounted power system could generate as much energy as a 1-GW nuclear power plant by the time they send the first one into orbit in the next few decades.
Via ::Pink Tentacle: Electricity from orbiting solar-powered lasers (blog)
See also: ::40% Efficient Solar Cells: They Are Being Used Back On Earth
Would this cook a plane or bird that came between the satellite and the station on earth?
My dad would go nuts. He's been saying for years that we need to generate solar power in space rather than just on Earth.
Cook a plane? Possibly.
Would need a no-fly zone around the download area. We've got that in places around the world now.
Cook a bird? Possibly.
Would need to position the receivers out of migratory paths and feeding/nesting areas. Off-shore might work.
While cool wouldn't this break international treaties about weapons in space?
Wasn't this the basis for a James Bond movie?
I think that sensors and some programing could be used to turn the beam off when planes got near. The way technologies are improving I would not even be certain that they could not turn it off and on so fast that they could avoid birds though house flies might get burned. I have also heard of the idea of using large receivers combined with wavelengths that don't heat matter well so that they can more easily get around some of these issues.
While it is good that people are looking at this it sounds like there are a lot of technologies to be developed and that it is a very long term goal.
The catroonish SOL weapon-satelite pictured is from the violent yet cool anime movie AKIRA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira_(film)
Mmm .. what a fantastic way to heat the atmosphere ;)
I proposed a similar system using cheap mylar concentrating reflectors in space (convex shape is maintained by solar wind). It seems like it would be ridiculously cheap per watt doing it as I proposed, and relatively easily (just tons of reflective fabric, and a collimating lens at the apex).
see http://whorledview.com/2007/06/24/
I didn't think of converting it to laser though for better and more focused transmission. Undoubtedly that's the way to do it. That or microwaves, but laser makes more sense to me.
Yes, this would be the ultimate weapon too. Now that I think about it, it's unbelievable it isn't already done.
I proposed a similar system using cheap mylar concentrating reflectors in space (convex shape is maintained by solar wind). It seems like it would be ridiculously cheap per watt doing it as I proposed, and relatively easily (just tons of reflective fabric, and a collimating lens at the apex).
see http://whorledview.com/2007/06/24/
I didn't think of converting it to laser though for better and more focused transmission. Undoubtedly that's the way to do it. That or microwaves, but laser makes more sense to me.
Yes, this would be the ultimate weapon too. Now that I think about it, it's unbelievable it isn't already done.
I proposed a similar system using cheap mylar concentrating reflectors in space (convex shape is maintained by solar wind). It seems like it would be ridiculously cheap per watt doing it as I proposed, and relatively easily (just tons of reflective fabric, and a collimating lens at the apex).
see http://whorledview.com/2007/06/24/
I didn't think of converting it to laser though for better and more focused transmission. Undoubtedly that's the way to do it. That or microwaves, but laser makes more sense to me.
Yes, this would be the ultimate weapon too. Now that I think about it, it's unbelievable it isn't already done.
You know, one potential 24/7 solution is to put the receiving station at the north (or south) pole, and then you don't have to worry about geosynchronicity - you can even put the array at one of the moon's poles.
People-solar is here right now and it will not need to cost you any upfront investment-click below!
Perhaps it could send out the beam in 5 second pulses, stopping for 10 seconds and sending out a weak charge to verify if the line of sight is interrupted (The ground station would reply with a laser signal back). That way, should a bird or plane get in the way, the system will stop for them.