The Solar Light Pipe (SLP) series of solar simulators can be configured to give precedence to certain specifications of interest, in accordance with your requirements. Some features are related, and maximizing one specification may reduce another. Four main distinctions maximize certain features.
HOM: Homogenized
Homogeneity interacts with many other specifications. Maximizing homogeneity often means reducing other specifications, so a balance is usually struck to achieve the best combination. Best possible spatial non-uniformity usually affects:
• Collimation: better collimation means poorer spatial non-uniformity.
• Irradiance: higher irradiance can be achieved by reducing the number and length of homogenizing optics, reducing losses, but this leads to poorer spatial non-uniformity.
COL: Collimated
Intended to minimize collimation angle (as small as 0.35° half angle) on a target. Commonly used for testing space or upper atmosphere traversing devices, etc.
• Usually less stringent spatial non-uniformity is possible.
• Usually 1 Sun (AM1.5G or AM0) irradiance (1000 to 1367 W/m2), though higher irradiance is available.
HF: High Flux
Intended to maximize power (many Suns’ irradiance) on a small target. Commonly used for testing thermal storage technology, solar concentrator systems, etc.
• Usually less stringent spatial non-uniformity is possible.
• Not usually collimated, typically focused beam by design.
LA: Large Area
Intended to maximize area covered by illumination at a given irradiance. Commonly used for light-soaking, materials-testing, or photocatalytic applications, etc.
• Usually less stringent spatial non-uniformity is possible, particularly affected at corners and edges.
• Efficiency is usually maximized to allow greatest irradiance over greatest possible target size, with smallest possible lamp.
• Lowest cost option per unit area.
Sciencetech’s SLP line has been developed from previous successful custom solutions. The core of the SLP line is a high-powered xenon short arc lamp paired with a homogenizing optics system. The result is uniform irradiance over a range of target areas at user selectable working distances. The power of the SLP designs lies in their many standard and custom options, all of which have been implemented with success in the past.