Case 14368

Angular Photonic Band Gap

Keywords:

Light discrimination based on angle of incidence, photonic crystal, anisotropic dielectric response

Applications:

Solar energy applications

Problem:

Efficiency of the solar-energy conversion is limited by re-radiation of sun-light which causes energy loss.

Technology:

This invention presents numerical simulations of a novel class of material systems that strongly discriminate light based on the angle of incidence, over a broad range of frequencies, and irrespective of the polarization. Unique properties of these systems emerge from exploring photonic crystals whose constituents have anisotropic dielectric response.

Advantages:

For solar energy applications, this technology enables nearly perfect green-house effect.

Inventors:
  • Professor Marin Soljacic (Department of Physics, MIT)
  • Ivan Celanovic (Institute of Soldier Nanotechnologies, MIT)
  • Rafif Hamam (Department of Physics, MIT)

Intellectual Property:

US Patent Application Number 13/186159, filed on July 19, 2011

Publications:

The Economist: Building a better suntrap- A novel approach to solar power may help to improve its efficiency (1/11/2012)

MIT News: Turning heat into power (2/3/2012)

Related Cases:

14212: A High Efficiency Micro-Thermophotovoltaic Generator System

15281: Thermally Stable Nano Structure for Selective Emitter

Last revised: February 4, 2012

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