Optical Power Beaming in the Lunar Environment

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the feasibility of optical power beaming in lunar environments, considering dust-induced attenuation, and proposes optimized design strategies for reliable long-distance power transmission during lunar exploration.

Contribution

It introduces a combined theoretical and simulation approach to model dust attenuation and optimize optical beaming systems for lunar conditions, addressing a key challenge in lunar power delivery.

Findings

LLD significantly attenuates optical signals in illuminated regions

OPB is more effective in dark lunar areas like shadowed regions

Proper optical design enables long-distance power transmission with manageable aperture sizes

Abstract

The increasing focus on lunar exploration requires innovative power solutions to support scientific research, mining, and habitation in the Moon's extreme environment. Optical power beaming (OPB) has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional systems. However, the impact of lofted lunar dust (LLD) on optical transmissions remains poorly understood. This research addresses that gap by evaluating LLD-induced attenuation and optimizing OPB design for efficient power delivery over long distances. A combined theoretical and simulation-based approach is employed, utilizing the T-matrix method to model LLD attenuation and Gaussian beam theory to optimize transmission and receiver parameters. The results indicate that LLD significantly attenuates ground-to-ground optical power transmission in illuminated regions, thus making OPB more suitable in darker areas, such as permanently shadowed regions or during the lunar night. Furthermore, we demonstrate that OPB can operate over long distances on the Moon while maintaining reasonable aperture sizes through appropriate optical design optimizations. These findings highlight the potential of OPB as a reliable power solution for sustainable lunar exploration and habitation.