Solar concentrators with optimal gain: LSC development at Caltech

Abstract

For the past several years we have been studying the luminescent solar concentrator, (LSC), particularly from the standpoint of what effect the various energy transfer mechanisms will have in a multi-dye LSC. The result is an enumeration of the various channels of energy flow, as well as dividends in the forms of techniques for improving the device performance. Inasmuch as these results are now in the process of being published or patented,* we will give here only a brief sketch of a few of the pertinent points. *Reference to our earlier work can be found in Optics Letters, vol L 73(1977).