The Effects of Module Temperature on the Energy Yield of Bifacial Photovoltaics: Data and Model

Bifacial photovoltaics (BPVs) are emerging with large momentum as promising solutions to improve energy yield and cost of PV systems. To reach its full potential, an accurate understanding of the physical characteristics of BPV technology is required. For this reason, we collected experimental data to refine a physical model of BPV. In particular, we simultaneously measured the module temperature, short circuit current (Isc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), power at the maximum power point (Pmpp), and the energy yield of a bifacial and a monofacial minimodule. Such minimodules, realised with the same geometry, cell technology, and module lamination, were tested under the same clear sky outdoor conditions, from morning to afternoon, for three days. The bifacial system experimentally shows higher module temperatures under operation, about 10 °C on a daily average of about 40 °C. Nevertheless, its energy yield is about 15% larger than the monofacial one. We propose a physical quantitative model that fits the experimental data of module temperature, Isc, Voc, Pmpp, and energy yield. The model was then applied to predict the annual energy yield of PV module strings. The effect of different PV module temperature coefficients on the energy yield is also discussed.

Hadron wave functions in high-energy scattering, form factors and strong decays: The effects of the Lorentz contracted form

In this paper, we study the class of the processes, where dynamics depends essentially on the properties of the hadron wave functions involved in the reactions. In this case, the momentum dependence of the form of the wave functions, imposed by the Lorentz invariance and in particular by the Lorentz contraction, can be tested in the experiment and may strongly influence the resulting cross-sections. One example of such observables is given by the hadron form factors in the case when the large [Formula: see text] behavior is mostly frozen, while the Lorentz contraction of the hadron wave functions is taken into account. Another example, considered earlier, is the strong hadron decay with high-energy emission. In this paper, we study the role of the Lorentz contraction in the high-energy hadron–hadron scattering process at large momentum transfer. For the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] scattering at large [Formula: see text], it is shown that at small [Formula: see text], the picture of two exponential slopes in the differential cross-section, explained previously by the author, remains stable, while the backward scattering cross-section is strongly increased by the Lorentz contraction.

Giant field-like torque by the out-of-plane magnetic spin Hall effect in a topological antiferromagnet

Spin-orbit torques (SOT) enable efficient electrical control of the magnetic state of ferromagnets, ferrimagnets and antiferromagnets. However, the conventional SOT has severe limitation that only in-plane spins accumulate near the surface, whether interpreted as a spin Hall effect (SHE) or as an Edelstein effect. Such a SOT is not suitable for controlling perpendicular magnetization, which would be more beneficial for realizing low-power-consumption memory devices. Here we report the observation of a giant magnetic-field-like SOT in a topological antiferromagnet Mn3Sn, whose direction and size can be tuned by changing the order parameter direction of the antiferromagnet. To understand the magnetic SHE (MSHE)- and the conventional SHE-induced SOTs on an equal footing, we formulate them as interface spin-electric-field responses and analyzed using a macroscopic symmetry analysis and a complementary microscopic quantum kinetic theory. In this framework, the large out-of-plane spin accumulation due to the MSHE has an inter-band origin and is likely to be caused by the large momentum-dependent spin splitting in Mn3Sn. Our work demonstrates the unique potential of antiferromagnetic Weyl semimetals in overcoming the limitations of conventional SOTs and in realizing low-power spintronics devices with new functionalities.

Full-color enhanced second harmonic generation using rainbow trapping in ultrathin hyperbolic metamaterials

Metasurfaces have provided a promising approach to enhance the nonlinearity at subwavelength scale, but usually suffer from a narrow bandwidth as imposed by sharp resonant features. Here, we counterintuitively report a broadband, enhanced second-harmonic generation, in nanopatterned hyperbolic metamaterials. The nanopatterning allows the direct access of the mode with large momentum, rendering the rainbow light trapping, i.e. slow light in a broad frequency, and thus enhancing the local field intensity for boosted nonlinear light-matter interactions. For a proof-of-concept demonstration, we fabricated a nanostructured Au/ZnO multilayer, and enhanced second harmonic generation can be observed within the visible wavelength range (400-650 nm). The enhancement factor is over 50 within the wavelength range of 470-650 nm, and a maximum conversion efficiency of 1.13×10−6 is obtained with a pump power of only 8.80 mW. Our results herein offer an effective and robust approach towards the broadband metasurface-based nonlinear devices for various important technologies.

Numerical study for the spray characteristics of diesel engine powered by biodiesel fuels under different injection pressures

Great attention is directed towards the study of the spray phenomena theoretically and experimentally due to its dramatic effect on the combustion process that occurred in an internal combustion engine, in particular, the diesel engine. The spray macroscopic characteristic of diesel engines fueled with two different biodiesel fuels in addition to nominal diesel under various injection pressures has been investigated numerically in this work. The selected biofuels are Rapeseed methyl ester (RME), Waste cooking oil methyl ester (WCOME). The Russian simulation software Diesel-RK is used in this work. Four different injection pressures are used which are 200, 500, 800 and 1000 bar respectively. It is found that RME has higher spray penetration with a narrow spray angle due to high viscosity and large momentum compared to diesel fuel. The results reported that biodiesels have greater Sauter mean diameter (SMD) compared to pure diesel because of their higher viscosity and surface tension. Promising reduction in SMD comes with WCOME as the injection pressure increases. Cylinder pressure along with heat release is reduced in the case of biodiesel due to the reduction in heating values. The lowest ability to produce smoke is recorded for WCOME where 93% reduction is achieved followed by a 57% reduction for RME as compared to diesel. The obtained results are compared with the results of other researcher and the convergence between them is observed.