Transparency-switching optical element for sun tracking applications

Harry Apostoleris; Samuele Lilliu; Matteo Chiesa; Marco Stefancich

doi:10.1117/12.2179947

Transparency-switching optical element for sun tracking applications

Harry Apostoleris
, Samuele Lilliu
, Matteo Chiesa
, Marco Stefancich

Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering

National Research Council

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present a novel optical element that behaves as a dynamic aperture capable of tracking a moving light source. The element is based on a composite material which when heated undergoes reversible transition from an opaque to transparent state, resulting from a phase transition in one of its components that modifies the microstructure of the material. The material has been designed to undergo a localized transparency transition at the point of illumination by a focused beam, activated by the absorption and conversion to heat of a portion of the incident light. As a result of this mechanism the aperture reactively tracks a moving light spot, such as that created by focusing sunlight onto a surface during the suns apparent motion through the sky. Such an element has been proposed as a solution to the sun tracking problem of solar concentration, as it allows admission of sunlight into a concentrating light trap over a wide range of solar angles.

Original language	British English
Title of host publication	Integrated Optics
Subtitle of host publication	Physics and Simulations II
Editors	Pavel Cheben, Jiri Ctyroky, Inigo Molina-Fernandez
Publisher	SPIE
ISBN (Electronic)	9781628416374
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2179947
State	Published - 2015
Event	Integrated Optics: Physics and Simulations II - Prague, Czech Republic Duration: 13 Apr 2015 → 15 Apr 2015

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	9516
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Conference

Conference	Integrated Optics: Physics and Simulations II
Country/Territory	Czech Republic
City	Prague
Period	13/04/15 → 15/04/15

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

concentrated photovoltaics
optical materials
self-tracking
solar concentration
Switchable transparency

Access to Document

10.1117/12.2179947

OpenUrl availability

Full text

Cite this

Apostoleris, H., Lilliu, S., Chiesa, M., & Stefancich, M. (2015). Transparency-switching optical element for sun tracking applications. In P. Cheben, J. Ctyroky, & I. Molina-Fernandez (Eds.), Integrated Optics: Physics and Simulations II Article 951618 (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 9516). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2179947

@inproceedings{575f566f63ba48c58038888c6bf22461,

title = "Transparency-switching optical element for sun tracking applications",

abstract = "We present a novel optical element that behaves as a dynamic aperture capable of tracking a moving light source. The element is based on a composite material which when heated undergoes reversible transition from an opaque to transparent state, resulting from a phase transition in one of its components that modifies the microstructure of the material. The material has been designed to undergo a localized transparency transition at the point of illumination by a focused beam, activated by the absorption and conversion to heat of a portion of the incident light. As a result of this mechanism the aperture reactively tracks a moving light spot, such as that created by focusing sunlight onto a surface during the suns apparent motion through the sky. Such an element has been proposed as a solution to the sun tracking problem of solar concentration, as it allows admission of sunlight into a concentrating light trap over a wide range of solar angles.",

keywords = "concentrated photovoltaics, optical materials, self-tracking, solar concentration, Switchable transparency",

author = "Harry Apostoleris and Samuele Lilliu and Matteo Chiesa and Marco Stefancich",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 SPIE.; Integrated Optics: Physics and Simulations II ; Conference date: 13-04-2015 Through 15-04-2015",

year = "2015",

doi = "10.1117/12.2179947",

language = "British English",

series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

publisher = "SPIE",

editor = "Pavel Cheben and Jiri Ctyroky and Inigo Molina-Fernandez",

booktitle = "Integrated Optics",

address = "United States",

}

Apostoleris, H, Lilliu, S, Chiesa, M & Stefancich, M 2015, Transparency-switching optical element for sun tracking applications. in P Cheben, J Ctyroky & I Molina-Fernandez (eds), Integrated Optics: Physics and Simulations II., 951618, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 9516, SPIE, Integrated Optics: Physics and Simulations II, Prague, Czech Republic, 13/04/15. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2179947

Transparency-switching optical element for sun tracking applications. / Apostoleris, Harry; Lilliu, Samuele; Chiesa, Matteo et al.
Integrated Optics: Physics and Simulations II. ed. / Pavel Cheben; Jiri Ctyroky; Inigo Molina-Fernandez. SPIE, 2015. 951618 (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 9516).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Transparency-switching optical element for sun tracking applications

AU - Apostoleris, Harry

AU - Lilliu, Samuele

AU - Chiesa, Matteo

AU - Stefancich, Marco

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - We present a novel optical element that behaves as a dynamic aperture capable of tracking a moving light source. The element is based on a composite material which when heated undergoes reversible transition from an opaque to transparent state, resulting from a phase transition in one of its components that modifies the microstructure of the material. The material has been designed to undergo a localized transparency transition at the point of illumination by a focused beam, activated by the absorption and conversion to heat of a portion of the incident light. As a result of this mechanism the aperture reactively tracks a moving light spot, such as that created by focusing sunlight onto a surface during the suns apparent motion through the sky. Such an element has been proposed as a solution to the sun tracking problem of solar concentration, as it allows admission of sunlight into a concentrating light trap over a wide range of solar angles.

AB - We present a novel optical element that behaves as a dynamic aperture capable of tracking a moving light source. The element is based on a composite material which when heated undergoes reversible transition from an opaque to transparent state, resulting from a phase transition in one of its components that modifies the microstructure of the material. The material has been designed to undergo a localized transparency transition at the point of illumination by a focused beam, activated by the absorption and conversion to heat of a portion of the incident light. As a result of this mechanism the aperture reactively tracks a moving light spot, such as that created by focusing sunlight onto a surface during the suns apparent motion through the sky. Such an element has been proposed as a solution to the sun tracking problem of solar concentration, as it allows admission of sunlight into a concentrating light trap over a wide range of solar angles.

KW - concentrated photovoltaics

KW - optical materials

KW - self-tracking

KW - solar concentration

KW - Switchable transparency

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84943523159

U2 - 10.1117/12.2179947

DO - 10.1117/12.2179947

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:84943523159

T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

BT - Integrated Optics

A2 - Cheben, Pavel

A2 - Ctyroky, Jiri

A2 - Molina-Fernandez, Inigo

PB - SPIE

T2 - Integrated Optics: Physics and Simulations II

Y2 - 13 April 2015 through 15 April 2015

ER -

Transparency-switching optical element for sun tracking applications

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

OpenUrl availability

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this