A fully planar solar pumped laser based on a luminescent solar collector

A solar-pumped laser (SPL) that converts sunlight directly into a coherent and intense laser beam generally requires a large concentrating lens and precise solar tracking, thereby limiting its potential utility. Here, we demonstrate a fully-planar SPL without a lens or solar tracking. A Nd 3+ -doped silica fiber is coiled into a cylindrical chamber filled with a sensitizer solution, which acts as a luminescent solar collector. The body of the...