Optical Modifications for Changing Power Density of Solar Simulator Systems

摘要

An apparatus and methods for retrofitting known solar simulator systems to allow the exit beam to be changed in size and location without changing the other fundamental functions of the main optical elements. The solar simulator system is provided with means for de-magnifying the exit beam to provide higher power densities at the illumination plane. By adding or replacing one final optical element, the system user can change the location of the illumination plane and the size of the illumination area. This change in size can increase or decrease the power density of the exit beam.

主权项

1. A solar simulator system comprising:
a first light source configured to generate a first optical beam; a first tipping lens disposed in front of said first light source at a location along a path of said first optical beam; a first spectral filter assembly configured to receive the first optical beam from said first tipping lens, split the first optical beam into a first plurality of beamlets, and then filter the first plurality of beamlets; a first re-imaging assembly configured to re-image the first plurality of beamlets received from the first spectral filter assembly so that the beamlets of the first plurality mutually overlap in an illumination plane; and a re-sizing lens configured to change a cross-sectional dimension of an optical beam impinging thereon, wherein said re-sizing lens is disposed along an optical path that starts at said first re-imaging assembly and ends at the illumination plane.