A photovoltaic flux detector for the solar tower test facility

Abstract

Two photovoltaic flux detectors for the solar tower test facility have been designed and fabricated to operate at concentrations up to 4000 suns. One of the detectors (type 1) has a high spectral response between 400 and 950 nm, while the other (type 2) has a spectral response which peaks at 475 nm and is low at longer wavelengths. The type 1 detector was fabricated on .2-.4 -cm n-type F2 silicon using conventional solar cell processing developed at Sandia National Laboratories. The type 2 detector is produced by exposing the type 1 detector to 1014neutrons/ cm2. The detector's spectral response, behavior with concentrated sunlight, and temperature dependance of the short current have been measured.