Abstract
One of the key challenges towards a working prototype of an optical antenna is a rectifier operating in the low femto second regime. Energy selective contacts (ESCs) are capable of extracting hot carriers from an
optical antenna on that time scale. Based on the carrier tunneling time through the ESCs the achievable conversion effciency of the ESCs is determined. Assuming the optical antenna works as a Carnot engine
under monochromatic light matching its resonance frequency, the total conversion efficiency ηtot of an optical antenna with ESCs is determined. The results show that with GaAs as a material of low effective carrier
mass, ηtot = 39 % is achievable under the conditions mentioned. The resulting optimum photon wave length renders optical antennas with ESCs suitable for energy conversion of the waste heat of combustion engines.
optical antenna on that time scale. Based on the carrier tunneling time through the ESCs the achievable conversion effciency of the ESCs is determined. Assuming the optical antenna works as a Carnot engine
under monochromatic light matching its resonance frequency, the total conversion efficiency ηtot of an optical antenna with ESCs is determined. The results show that with GaAs as a material of low effective carrier
mass, ηtot = 39 % is achievable under the conditions mentioned. The resulting optimum photon wave length renders optical antennas with ESCs suitable for energy conversion of the waste heat of combustion engines.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of the 21st European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference (21E-PVSEC) |
| Subtitle of host publication | Proc. on CD-ROM |
| Editors | Jeff Poortmans, Heinz Ossenbrink, Ewan Dunlop, Peter Helm |
| Pages | 83-86 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 3-936338-20-5 |
| Publication status | Published - 8 Sept 2006 |
| Externally published | Yes |