A Topological Analysis of the Magnetic Breakout Model for an Eruptive Solar Flare

Maclean, R., Beveridge, C., Longcope, D.W., Brown, D.S. and Priest, E.R., 2005, A topological analysis of the magnetic breakout model for an eruptive solar flare, Proc. Roy. Soc., 461, 2099-2120. Sponsorship: PPARC/STFC

LOCALIZED ENHANCEMENTS OF Fe+10 DENSITY IN THE CORONA AS OBSERVED IN Fe xi 789.2 nm DURING THE 2006 MARCH 29 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

Habbal, Shadia Rifai; Morgan, Huw; Johnson, Judd; Arndt, Martina Belz; Daw, Adrian; Jaeggli, Sarah; Kuhn, Jeff; Mickey, Don, LOCALIZED ENHANCEMENTS OF Fe+10 DENSITY IN THE CORONA AS OBSERVED IN Fe xi 789.2 nm DURING THE 2006 MARCH 29 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE, The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 663, Issue 1, pp. 598-609

An empirical 3D model of the large-scale coronal structure based on the distribution of H? filaments on the solar disk

Morgan, H.; Habbal, S. R., An empirical 3D model of the large-scale coronal structure based on the distribution of H? filaments on the solar disk, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 464, Issue 1, March II 2007, pp.357-365

Interaction between coronal mass ejections and the solar wind

Jones, R. A.; Breen, A. R.; Fallows, R. A.; Canals, A.; Bisi, M. M.; Lawrence, G. (2007). Interaction between coronal mass ejections and the solar wind, Journal of Geophysical Research, 112, Issue A8 RAE2008

Estimating random transverse velocities in the fast solar wind from EISCAT Interplanetary Scintillation measurements

Canals, A.; Breen, A. R.; Ofman, L.; Moran, P. J.; Fallows, R. A., Estimating random transverse velocities in the fast solar wind from EISCAT Interplanetary Scintillation measurements, Annales Geophysicae, vol. 20, Issue 9, pp.1265-1277

Studies of the solar mean magnetic field with the Birmingham Solar-Oscillations Network (BiSON)

Chaplin, W. J.; Dumbill, A. M.; Elsworth, Y.; Isaak, G. R.; McLeod, C. P.; Miller, B. A.; New, R.; Pint?r, B., Studies of the solar mean magnetic field with the Birmingham Solar-Oscillations Network (BiSON), Monthly Notice of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 343, Issue 3, pp. 813-818. RAE2008

Transition region, coronal heating and the fast solar wind

Li, Xing, 'Transition region, coronal heating and the fast solar wind', Astronomy and Astrophysics (2003) 406 pp.345-356 RAE2008

Extremely long baseline interplanetary scintillation measurements of solar wind velocity

Breen, Andrew; Fallows, R. A.; Thomasson, P.; Bisi, M. M., 'Extremely long baseline interplanetary scintillation measurements of solar wind velocity', Journal of Geophysical Research (2006) 111(A8) pp.A08104 RAE2008

Global oscillations in a magnetic solar model : II Oblique propagation

Pint?r, B.; Erd?lyi, R.; Goossens, M., Global oscillations in a magnetic solar model. II. Oblique propagation, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 466, Issue 1, April IV 2007, pp.377-388 Pint?r, B.; Erd?lyi, R.; Goossens, M., (2007) 'Global oscillations in a magnetic solar model II. Oblique propagation', Astronomy and Astrophysics 466(1) pp.377-388 RAE2008

Hybrid simulation of ion cyclotron resonance in the solar wind: evolution of velocity distribution functions

Li, Xing; Habbal, S.R., (2005) 'Hybrid simulation of ion cyclotron resonance in the solar wind: evolution of velocity distribution functions', Journal of Geophysical Research 110(A10) pp.A10109 RAE2008

Large-scale structure of the fast solar wind

Breen, Andrew; Bisi, M.M.; Fallows, R.A.; Habbal, S.R., (2007) 'Large-scale structure of the fast solar wind', Journal of Geophysical Research 112(A6) pp.A06101 RAE2008

Validation of a parabolic trough solar receiver model based on physical formulation of the absorber total emissivity from its spectral emissivity

Concentrating solar power is an important way of providing renewable energy. Model simulation approaches play a fundamental role in the development of this technology and, for this, an accurately validation of the models is crucial. This work presents the validation of the heat loss model of the absorber tube of a parabolic trough plant by comparing the model heat loss estimates with real measurements in a specialized testing laboratory. The study focuses on the implementation in the model of a physical-meaningful and widely valid formulation of the absorber total emissivity depending on the surface’s temperature. For this purpose, the spectral emissivity of several absorber’s samples are measured and, with these data, the absorber total emissivity curve is obtained according to Planck function. This physical-meaningful formulation is used as input parameter in the heat loss model and a successful validation of the model is performed. Since measuring the spectral emissivity of the absorber surface may be complex and it is sample-destructive, a new methodology for the absorber’s emissivity characterization is proposed. This methodology provides an estimation of the absorber total emissivity, retaining its physical meaning and widely valid formulation according to Planck function with no need for direct spectral measurements. This proposed method is also successfully validated and the results are shown in the present paper.

High-efficiency photovoltaics through mechanically stacked integration of solar cells based on the InP lattice constant

Solar Energy is a clean and abundant energy source that can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels around which questions still persist about their contribution to climate and long-term availability. Monolithic triple-junction solar cells are currently the state of the art photovoltaic devices with champion cell efficiencies exceeding 40%, but their ultimate efficiency is restricted by the current-matching constraint of series-connected cells. The objective of this thesis was to investigate the use of solar cells with lattice constants equal to InP in order to reduce the constraint of current matching in multi-junction solar cells. This was addressed by two approaches: Firstly, the formation of mechanically stacked solar cells (MSSC) was investigated through the addition of separate connections to individual cells that make up a multi-junction device. An electrical and optical modelling approach identified separately connected InGaAs bottom cells stacked under dual-junction GaAs based top cells as a route to high efficiency. An InGaAs solar cell was fabricated on an InP substrate with a measured 1-Sun conversion efficiency of 9.3%. A comparative study of adhesives found benzocyclobutene to be the most suitable for bonding component cells in a mechanically stacked configuration owing to its higher thermal conductivity and refractive index when compared to other candidate adhesives. A flip-chip process was developed to bond single-junction GaAs and InGaAs cells with a measured 4-terminal MSSC efficiency of 25.2% under 1-Sun conditions. Additionally, a novel InAlAs solar cell was identified, which can be used to provide an alternative to the well established GaAs solar cell. As wide bandgap InAlAs solar cells have not been extensively investigated for use in photovoltaics, single-junction cells were fabricated and their properties relevant to PV operation analysed. Minority carrier diffusion lengths in the micrometre range were extracted, confirming InAlAs as a suitable material for use in III-V solar cells, and a 1-Sun conversion efficiency of 6.6% measured for cells with 800 nm thick absorber layers. Given the cost and small diameter of commercially available InP wafers, InGaAs and InAlAs solar cells were fabricated on alternative substrates, namely GaAs. As a first demonstration the lattice constant of a GaAs substrate was graded to InP using an InxGa1-xAs metamorphic buffer layer onto which cells were grown. This was the first demonstration of an InAlAs solar cell on an alternative substrate and an initial step towards fabricating these cells on Si. The results presented offer a route to developing multi-junction solar cell devices based on the InP lattice parameter, thus extending the range of available bandgaps for high efficiency cells.

Mechanically stacked solar cells for concentrator photovoltaics

The power output of dual-junction mechanically stacked solar cells comprising different sub-cell materials in a terrestrial concentrating photovoltaic module has been evaluated. The ideal bandgap combination of both cells in a stack was found using EtaOpt. A combination of 1.4 eV and 0.7 eV has been found to produce the highest photovoltaic conversion efficiency under the AM1.5 Direct Solar Spectrum with x500 concentration. As EtaOpt does not consider the absorption profile of solar cell materials; the practical power output per unit area of a dual junction mechanically stacked solar cell has been modelled considering the optical absorption co-efficients and thicknesses of the individual solar cells. The model considered a GaAs top cell and a Ge, GaSb, Ga0.47In0.53As or Si bottom cell. It was found that GaSb gives the highest power contribution as a bottom cell in a dual junction configuration followed by Ge and GaInAs. While the additional power provided by a Si bottom cell is less than these it remains a suitable candidate for a bottom cell owing to its lower cost

Detection methods for common problems in solar home systems

Gemstone Team SHINE (Students Helping to Implement Natural Energy)