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Study of a cesium plasma as a selective emitter for thermophotovoltaic applicationsThis experimental study evaluates the potential of a cesium plasma as an emitter for a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) energy conversion system. A cesium plasma, as a result of the ground-state transitions of its single outer-shell electron, produces large amounts of radiation in the 850-890-nm wavelength region. This would provide excellent coupling to silicon, gallium arsenide, and indium phosphide photovoltaic cells. Measurements of the radiative efficiency, the sum of the power at the 852 and 894 nm wavelengths relative to the total emitted power, were made and correlated to the plasma operating variables. It was determined that, for atomic density in the range (3-6) x 10 exp 21/cu cm and electron temperature in the range 2000-3000 K, radiative efficiencies in excess of 70 percent are attainable. This would indicate that a cesium plasma with its selective emission characteristics and low electron operating temperatures of 2000-3000 K would be an excellent candidate as an emitter in a TPV system.
Document ID
19920051043
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Lowe, R.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Goradia, C.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Goradia, M.
(Cleveland State University OH, United States)
Chubb, Donald L.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
November 15, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Applied Physics
Volume: 68
ISSN: 0021-8979
Subject Category
Plasma Physics
Accession Number
92A33667
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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