Search

Highly efficient ultra-lightweight doubled linear Fresnel-lens concentrators of solar light, which operate in tandem with multijunction InGaP/GaAs/Ge solar cells, have been developed and fabricated. The concentrators have a total photoactive area of (50×100) mm2, with the total thickness of ≤0.35 mm and optical focus of 32 mm. The Fresnel profile of each linear lens in the concentrator is formed from silicone rubber on ≤100 µm radiation-hard glass. The efficiency of the linear lens concentrators was 90% for the AM0 spectrum (1367 W/m2). The efficiency of the concentrators was examined before and after the irradiation and thermal-cycling tests. A 10% decrease in the efficiency of the linear lens concentrators is observed upon irradiation with 1 MeV electrons at a fluence of 3×1015 cm−2 and a