- #1
Domenico94
- 130
- 6
Hi everyone.
On these days, by watching solar panels and similar stuff, I just thought about it, and why they take such a wide surface to produce energy, and why their output is often low, as we all know.
By navigating here on the internet, I've just seen a device called OPO (Optical parametrical oscillator)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_parametric_oscillator , whose primary function is doubling the frequency of a wave, usually emitted by laser. In this device, if we say it briefly, a laser usually reaches the surface of this device: at this point, it hits a cristal, and two mirrors, that create the output of a higher frequency (usually double as the original frequency, if I'm correct).
My point is: physically, solar panels function according to the principle that photons emit light with a given frequency, say, f, and the energy associated with that frequency
E = hf
Makes the electrons on the surface of solar panels "escape", which in turn produces electric current. That means, the more frequency we have, maybe until a given point, the more energy and the more electricity we have.
Another consideration that I want to do is: the radiation of the sun, and the laser used to make the OPO function, have the same frequency, if I'm right. Means that the device should virtually work with light, provided we modify it in some way.
My question, is then: what would happen if we could use an optical parametric oscillator in our solar panels, in order to double the frequency associated with light in a solar panel, and then produce electricity with a surface that could be much less of the originary one? Would we have any problems about feasibilty, or costs?
On these days, by watching solar panels and similar stuff, I just thought about it, and why they take such a wide surface to produce energy, and why their output is often low, as we all know.
By navigating here on the internet, I've just seen a device called OPO (Optical parametrical oscillator)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_parametric_oscillator , whose primary function is doubling the frequency of a wave, usually emitted by laser. In this device, if we say it briefly, a laser usually reaches the surface of this device: at this point, it hits a cristal, and two mirrors, that create the output of a higher frequency (usually double as the original frequency, if I'm correct).
My point is: physically, solar panels function according to the principle that photons emit light with a given frequency, say, f, and the energy associated with that frequency
E = hf
Makes the electrons on the surface of solar panels "escape", which in turn produces electric current. That means, the more frequency we have, maybe until a given point, the more energy and the more electricity we have.
Another consideration that I want to do is: the radiation of the sun, and the laser used to make the OPO function, have the same frequency, if I'm right. Means that the device should virtually work with light, provided we modify it in some way.
My question, is then: what would happen if we could use an optical parametric oscillator in our solar panels, in order to double the frequency associated with light in a solar panel, and then produce electricity with a surface that could be much less of the originary one? Would we have any problems about feasibilty, or costs?