To recreate the effect of using a lens for concentrating sunlight, scientists behind this experiment used a 12-kilowatt carbon dioxide laser on a material mimicking the dusty lunar surface. The immense heat produced by the laser beam melted the raw material and turned it into a glassy or crystalline solid. The strength of the material was found to be close to that of concrete. When it comes to applying the technique on the moon, the team hopes to replicate the laser’s energy using a Fresnel lens to be carried to the moon in the near future.
The lens, which needs to measure 2.37 square meters across to achieve the desired power, would act as a sunlight concentrator to create an energy beam with a 45mm diameter and a material thickness target of 15-20 millimeters, according to the study. In the long run, the team hopes to use the laser-sintered moondust to make solid 3D structures such as habitats for astronomers, hangars, and storage units.
Scientists are hoping that structures made from this material will also shield the habitats from micrometeorites and harmful radiation, which is extremely important because the moon lacks an atmosphere that can block it. Carrying powerful laser equipment necessary for making crystalline blocks to the moon isn’t feasible, but a lens that doubles as a light concentrator would be far easier, and it also solves a multitude of problems, including energy generation and supply requirements.
