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Photonic or laser converters are elements essential in systems fueled by light. These devices transform laser light into electrical energy with a remarkable efficiency of 53 %, producing more than 2 volts at their maximum power point. Thanks to research carried out at the University of Ottawa, a new approach now makes it possible to transmit energy to distant destinations using a simple optical fiber, even in the most difficult environments. This advancement could revolutionize the integration of remote supply solutions by laser in the existing infrastructure of optical fibers.
Reliable communication in distant places and extreme situations
Researchers point out that this innovation could open the way to improved connectivity and more reliable communications in distant places and extreme situations. According to Professor Karin Hinzernorth at the University of Ottawa, who collaborated with the Fraunhofer Institute for solar energy systems in Germany, traditional fiber energy transmission systems lose most of the laser light. With these new devices, the length of the fibers can be considerably increased. SUNLAB researchers have developed a simulation model for multi-Junction photonic power converters operating at infrared wavelengths used for telecommunications, which have low loss of mitigation per kilometer of fiber.
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Spectacular improvement in energy and data transmission
Gavin Forcade, the first author of this study, said that the manufactured system shows a spectacular improvement in energy transmission and data over distances greater than one kilometer, where traditional systems are not viable. Multi-Junctions are built by stacking many semiconductive junctions that absorb light, which converts more total laser light into electrical energy, thus reaching higher efficiency and tension. Using this model, the teams were able to design and manufacture a photonic power converter producing more than 2 volts at its maximum power point with an efficiency greater than 53 %.
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Technology can create faster and more robust networks
The adoption of photonic power converters at telecommunications wavelengths could lead to more reliable telecommunications networks, reduce costs by improving systems performance and creating faster and more robust networks. This could benefit many technologies such as monitoring of intelligent networks, monitoring sensors for lightning-resistant wind turbines, underwater sensors, remote video links, and many others. According to Hinzer, president of research in photonic devices for energy at university, this advance could improve the supply of high -voltage and monitoring sensors for intelligent networks without risk of lightning defects, reduce the risk of sparks in dangerous environments, and potentially transmit energy and data simultaneously to distant devices on the existing fiber optical infrastructure.
Towards increased efficiency of photonic power converters
Researchers have also revealed that photonic or laser power converters are essential components of light -powered systems. However, their use in long -distance applications was hampered by low efficiency and output voltages in the optical transmission window of laser wavelengths from 1.3 to 1.6 µm. Researchers have improved and simplified the design and characterization processes of photonic power converters, exceeding 50 % of efficiency under a laser light of 1.446 µm. They developed a calibrated model predicting efficiency gains with the increase in the prohibited strip, reaching up to 57 % efficiency at a wavelength of 1.3 µm. As a first demonstration, they produced a high efficiency device designed by the model: an Ingaasp photonic power converter with four junctions with a conversion efficiency of 53.6 % ± 1.3 % and an output voltage greater than 2 V under 15.2 W/cm² of laser light of 1.446 µm.
These advances in the transmission of energy and laser data open up new perspectives for remote applications in difficult environments. While technology continues to evolve, what other innovations could emerge to transform our way of transmitting energy and data around the world?
The author relied on artificial intelligence to enrich this article.
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