Proceedings of the 14th International Cryocooler Conference: Mungan

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All-Solid-State Optical Coolers: History, Status, and Potential

C. Mungan¹, M. Buchwald², G. Mills³
¹USNA, Annapolis, MD, ²Buchwald Consulting, Bethesda, MD, ³Ball Aerospace, Boulder, CO

Abstract

Recent experiments and theoretical models relevant to optical cooling of bulk matter are reviewed. A new derivation of the cooling efficiency, accounting both for the escape probability and the saturation intensity, is developed. Applications to an optical refrigerator and a radiation- balanced solid-state laser are considered. An overview is given of results and ideas pertaining to fluorescent cooling of rare-earth-doped solids, semiconductors, fluids, and other potential cooling materials, including the basic thermodynamics of the process.