Feasibility of using liquid-metal heat carriers to cool power optics components made of porous structures

A theoretical investigation is made of the thermal and thermal-deformation characteristics of laser mirrors made of metal-fiber structures cooled with liquid alkali metals (eutectic heat carriers of the Na–K composition). The estimates obtained confirm the possibility of using liquid-metal heat carriers to cool heat-stressed power optics components so as to ensure minimal thermal distortions of the reflecting surfaces.