Performance limitations of translationally symmetric nonimaging devices

John C. Bortz; Narkis E. Shatz; Roland Winston

doi:10.1117/12.448806

19 November 2001 Performance limitations of translationally symmetric nonimaging devices

John C. Bortz, Narkis E. Shatz, Roland Winston

Proceedings Volume 4446, Nonimaging Optics: Maximum Efficiency Light Transfer VI; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.448806
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2001, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The component of the optical direction vector along the symmetry axis is conserved for all rays propagated through a translationally symmetric optical device. This quality, referred to herein as the translational skew invariant, is analogous to the conventional skew invariant, which is conserved in rotationally symmetric optical systems. The invariance of both of these quantities is a consequence of Noether's theorem. We show how performance limits for translationally symmetric nonimaging optical devices can be derived from the distributions of the translational skew invariant for the optical source and for the target to which flux is to be transferred. Examples of computed performance limits are provided. In addition, we show that a numerically optimized non-tracking solar concentrator utilizing symmetry-breaking surface microstructure can overcome the performance limits associated with translational symmetry. The optimized design provides a 47.4% increase in efficiency and concentration relative to an ideal translationally symmetric concentrator.

Citation Download Citation

John C. Bortz, Narkis E. Shatz, and Roland Winston "Performance limitations of translationally symmetric nonimaging devices", Proc. SPIE 4446, Nonimaging Optics: Maximum Efficiency Light Transfer VI, (19 November 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.448806

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