Experimental study of solar pumped laser for magnesium-hydrogen energy cycle

24.4 W of laser output has been obtained by sun-pumped, Cr-codoped Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet ceramic. The water-cooled laser rod was pumped with a Fresnel lens focusing the natural sunlight. By using the advantages of the Fresnel lenses, the maximum output for unit area of sunlight was 18.7 W/m2. Direct concentrated solar illumination was used to pump a 9mm-diameter, 100mm length rod of Cr:Nd:YAG, which was obtained 9%-14% slope efficiency for the laser output. We have analyzed the Cr:YAG laser medium and found it to be an excellent high-power laser candidate for direct solar-pumping schemes which enhances the laser output about 1.8 times more than Nd:YAG.