Solar radiation concentrated by using a large solar collector was used
to optically excite a Nd: YAG laser medium and was successfully conve
rted into coherent laser light. The maximum laser output power attaine
d 60 W in multi-mode. This is the highest power so far reported on a s
olar-pumped laser. Q-switched pulse operation of the cw solar-pumped N
d:YAG laser was performed by inserting an acousto-optic deflector into
the laser cavity. Output pulses of peak power greater than 100 kW and
FWHM of 100 ns were obtained at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. Using the
pulsed solar-pumped Nd:YAG laser, second harmonics were generated at
wavelength of 530 nm by a nonlinear KTP crystal.