Things are a lot easier when you stop trying to shoehorn the subatomic into preconceived categories. Thinking of electrons as little green billiard balls orbiting a lumpy red nucleus only leads to confusion.

Let the equations dictate what the theory describes. In the case of QFT, the equations describe a continuous field. Excitations of the field travel as waves. Energy transfer (ie interaction) is allowed only in discreet qunta.

The “particles” we’re used to only appear when boundary conditions are applied (such as the particle in a box) But the particle is just a fiction. What really exists is the field, and the energy.

The real quantum mystery is not how a “particle” can be in two places at once. A wave is not so localized. The mystery is how the energy gets “concentrated” again in an interaction. How are conservation laws “enforced”?

If you simply *must* think of quantum entities as real particles or waves, pretend they travel as waves and interact as particles.

Things are a lot easier when you stop trying to shoehorn the subatomic into preconceived categories. Thinking of electrons as little green billiard balls orbiting a lumpy red nucleus only leads to confusion.

Let the equations dictate what the theory describes. In the case of QFT, the equations describe a continuous field. Excitations of the field travel as waves. Energy transfer (ie interaction) is allowed only in discreet qunta.

The “particles” we’re used to only appear when boundary conditions are applied (such as the particle in a box) But the particle is just a fiction. What really exists is the field, and the energy.

The real quantum mystery is not how a “particle” can be in two places at once. A wave is not so localized. The mystery is how the energy gets “concentrated” again in an interaction. How are conservation laws “enforced”?

If you simply *must* think of quantum entities as real particles or waves, pretend they travel as waves and interact as particles.

Things are a lot easier when you stop trying to shoehorn the subatomic into preconceived categories. Thinking of electrons as little green billiard balls orbiting a lumpy red nucleus only leads to confusion.

Let the equations dictate what the theory describes. In the case of QFT, the equations describe a continuous field. Excitations of the field travel as waves. Energy transfer (ie interaction) is allowed only in discreet qunta.

The “particles” we’re used to only appear when boundary conditions are applied (such as the particle in a box) But the particle is just a fiction. What really exists is the field, and the energy.

The real quantum mystery is not how a “particle” can be in two places at once. A wave is not so localized. The mystery is how the energy gets “concentrated” again in an interaction. How are conservation laws “enforced”?

If you simply *must* think of quantum entities as real particles or waves, pretend they travel as waves and interact as particles.

Your idea of collecting the light repeatedly has some validation. Take a look at multi-junction photovoltaic cells. It works on the understanding of visible light being comprised of many colors i.e. many different energies. Different semiconductors have different energies they absorb, or “band gaps.” Light (or rather photons with different energies) passes through layers of these film cells and increases the efficiency of the overall cell. I suggest you look more into PV theory and see whats readily available. Good idea though.

Ariel,

You don’t mention anything about how hot the system could get. I would assume as with any other CPV system that this one would get fairly hot. And we all know that when solar cells get over heated, they lose efficiency. I’ve seen so many great concentrating systems; what I want now is a great cooling system for them.

Your idea of collecting the light repeatedly has some validation. Take a look at multi-junction photovoltaic cells. It works on the understanding of visible light being comprised of many colors i.e. many different energies. Different semiconductors have different energies they absorb, or “band gaps.” Light (or rather photons with different energies) passes through layers of these film cells and increases the efficiency of the overall cell. I suggest you look more into PV theory and see whats readily available. Good idea though.

Ariel,

You don’t mention anything about how hot the system could get. I would assume as with any other CPV system that this one would get fairly hot. And we all know that when solar cells get over heated, they lose efficiency. I’ve seen so many great concentrating systems; what I want now is a great cooling system for them.

Your idea of collecting the light repeatedly has some validation. Take a look at multi-junction photovoltaic cells. It works on the understanding of visible light being comprised of many colors i.e. many different energies. Different semiconductors have different energies they absorb, or “band gaps.” Light (or rather photons with different energies) passes through layers of these film cells and increases the efficiency of the overall cell. I suggest you look more into PV theory and see whats readily available. Good idea though.

Ariel,

You don’t mention anything about how hot the system could get. I would assume as with any other CPV system that this one would get fairly hot. And we all know that when solar cells get over heated, they lose efficiency. I’ve seen so many great concentrating systems; what I want now is a great cooling system for them.

Thanks for the article Ariel, I’ll read it as soon as I’m done posting.

Alex, excellent point. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed … hmm, and even if it were a wave it would not necessarily have more of a charge. It would have the same charge value in many places. The only benefit that could be realized is if it could be collected repeatedly.

Jim, I thought light was classified as both. I could be wrong though. Can you give me more info on where to look for the article you’re referencing?

Brian

Thanks for the article Ariel, I’ll read it as soon as I’m done posting.

Alex, excellent point. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed … hmm, and even if it were a wave it would not necessarily have more of a charge. It would have the same charge value in many places. The only benefit that could be realized is if it could be collected repeatedly.

Jim, I thought light was classified as both. I could be wrong though. Can you give me more info on where to look for the article you’re referencing?

Brian