Exosolar photovoltaics: Exploring the detailed balance of other star and planetary systems

摘要

The detailed balance limits of exoplanets and their host stars was investigated using Python. The script is able to quickly determine efficiencies and bandgaps of an arbitrary number of junctions over a range of star temperatures, star radii, and orbital distances. The efficiencies, and maximum power output, of familiar materials such as silicon, GaAs, and Ge-lattice matched triple junction are presented, and compared against the ideal bandgaps and efficiencies of 1 to 6 junction devices for each planetary system.