An Arbitrarily Programmable Solar Simulator Based on a Liquid Crystal Spatial Light Modulator

Published

June 8, 2014

Author(s)

Tasshi Dennis

Abstract

We describe the design, operation, and application of a programmable super-continuum solar simulator which incorporates a liquid crystal spatial light modulator to precisely control the spectral content within a prism-based spectrometer. Closed-loop operation of the simulator was used to optimize the output spectrum to match target profiles. Spectra are presented which simulate arbitrary irradiance profiles, an AM 1.5 solar reference spectrum, light biasing for multijunctions, and a dynamic light source for quantum efficiency measurements. Variable blue-rich and red-rich light-biasing spectra were used to demonstrate the current limiting behavior of a GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cell. The simulator light propagates as a beam with a single spatial mode, making it suitable for a variety of applications, including those that require a micrometer-scale focus.

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of the 40th Annual Photovoltaics Specialists Conference

Conference Dates

June 9-13, 2014

Conference Location

Denver, CO

Conference Title

PVSC 40

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

photovoltaics, solar cell, spectrum, supercontinuum, spectroscopy, microscopy

Citation

Dennis, T. (2014), An Arbitrarily Programmable Solar Simulator Based on a Liquid Crystal Spatial Light Modulator, Proceedings of the 40th Annual Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, Denver, CO (Accessed April 24, 2026)

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