Spl’s or solar pumped lasers are now a thing.

[405nanoMatt]

Scientists Built the Best Solar Laser Ever

They're not just for supervillains anymore.

www.popularmechanics.com

 

[Sowee7]

Scientists Built the Best Solar Laser Ever

They're not just for supervillains anymore.

www.popularmechanics.com

They have been around for quite some time

 

[CurtisOliver]

Yes they aren’t a new thing however I welcome any updates in progress and efficiency. I even looked into whether or not I could obtain a crystal.

 

[kecked]

And…..I would like some info too. This is seriously cool. I imagine the juice is mw but that is ok by me. My heat vane is picowatts so why not.

 

[Eidetical]

Here's the first sun pumped laser to transmit a TV signal, from Laser Focus of March,1966. Also the first commercial spatial filter, from Jodon Engineering Associates.

 

[kecked]

I wonder if you can sidestep some of the heat with an ir cut filter like on glass on buildings. Put in front of mirror before it concentrates. Now you just get the optical part. Might even filter more that isn’t absorbed.

i was thinking this was some super crystal that direct sunlight without concentration would cause it to lase. Guess that only happens in star trek when they need to break out of a jail.

 

[Eidetical]

Two more pics of sun-pumped lasers from the '60s below. The first shows Dr. Zoltan Kiss from RCA (I believe).