Related papers: Reaching optimal efficiencies using nano-sized pho…
We investigate the connection between photonic local density of states and luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) performance in two manufacturable nanocavity LSC structures, a bilayer slab and a slab photonic crystal. Finite-difference…
Using optical eigenmodes defined by the interaction between the electromagnetic fields and photonic structures it is possible to determine the optimal illumination of these structures with respect to a specific measurable quantity. One such…
The desiderata for an ideal photon source are high brightness, high single-photon purity, and high indistinguishability. Defining brightness at the first collection lens, these properties have been simultaneously demonstrated with…
Employing plasmonic antennas for subdiffraction focusing of light on recording media requires to take into account the complete structure of the medium, including dielectric cover layers. We find, with finite difference time domain…
We report a numerical design procedure for pursuing a near-unity coupling efficiency in quantum dot-cavity ridge waveguide single-photon sources by performing simulations with the finite element method. Our optimum design which is based on…
Abstract The Curzon-Ahlborn (CA) efficiency, as the efficiency at the maximum power (EMP) of the endoreversible Carnot engine, has a significant impact on finite-time thermodynamics. However, the CA engine model is based on many…
We present and study novel optimal control problems motivated by the search for photovoltaic materials with high power-conversion efficiency. The material must perform the first step: convert light (photons) into electronic excitations. We…
Photonic devices play an increasingly important role in advancing physics and engineering, and while improvements in nanofabrication and computational methods have driven dramatic progress in expanding the range of achievable optical…
While silicon solar cells dominate global photovoltaic energy production, their continued improvement is hindered by the single junction limit. One potential solution is to use molecular singlet exciton fission to generate two electrons…
The performance of nano-scale energy conversion devices is studied in the framework of state-space models where a device is described by a graph comprising states and transitions between them represented by nodes and links, respectively.…
The study proposes to use the photon trapping micro-structures to enhance quantum efficiency of the mid infrared photodetectors. The nanostructure that is consist of micro holes reduces reflection and bends the near normally incident light…
We realize controlled cavity-mediated photon transfer between two single nanoparticles over a distance of several tens of micrometers. First, we show how a single nanoscopic emitter attached to a near-field probe can be coupled to high-Q…
It is thought that nature already exploits quantum mechanical properties to increase the efficiency of solar energy harvesting devices. So, the operation of these devices can be enhanced by clever design of a nanoscopic, quantum mechanical…
We report the fabrication and measurement of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells with efficiencies of >40%, which is a record high TPV efficiency and the first experimental demonstration of the efficiency of high-bandgap tandem TPV cells. TPV…
Patterning the front side of an ultra-thin crystalline silicon (c Si) solar cell helps keeping the energy conversion efficiency high by compensating for the light absorption losses. A super-Gaussian mathematical expression was used in order…
A novel photonic thermal diode concept operating in the near field and capitalizing on the temperature-dependence of coupled surface polariton modes in nanostructures is proposed. The diode concept utilizes terminals made of the same…
Under the assumption that some part of the observed highest energy cosmic rays consists of protons originating from cosmological distances, we derive bounds on the associated flux of neutrinos generated by inelastic processes with the…
We implement a photonic crystal nanofiber device by reversibly combining an optical nanofiber and a nanofabricated grating. Using the finite-difference time-domain method, we design the system for minimal optical loss while tailoring the…
Nanoscale electronics and photonics are among the most promising research areas providing functional nano-components for data transfer and signal processing. By adopting metal-based optical antennas as a disruptive technological vehicle, we…
Light management is of great importance to photovoltaic cells, as it determines the fraction of incident light entering the device. An optimal pn-junction combined with an optimal light absorption can lead to a solar cell efficiency above…