Exact field solution to guided wave propagation in lossy thin films

James R. Nagel; Steve Blair; Michael A. Scarpulla

doi:10.1117/12.910168

21 February 2012 Exact field solution to guided wave propagation in lossy thin films

James R. Nagel, Steve Blair, Michael A. Scarpulla

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8256, Physics, Simulation, and Photonic Engineering of Photovoltaic Devices; 825606 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.910168
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2012, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The problem of light trapping in thin film solar cells is one of mode coupling into a lossy waveguide structure. This paper therefore derives the full-field solution for electromagnetic wave propagation in a three-layer dielectric system with arbitrary complex indices of refraction. The functional form of the eigenvalue equation is identical to that of the strictly lossless case, but with complex-valued propagation constants rather than real. Lossy mode propagation is then explored in the context of photovoltaics by modeling a thin film solar cell made of amorphous silicon with an aluminum back contact.

Citation Download Citation

James R. Nagel, Steve Blair, and Michael A. Scarpulla "Exact field solution to guided wave propagation in lossy thin films", Proc. SPIE 8256, Physics, Simulation, and Photonic Engineering of Photovoltaic Devices, 825606 (21 February 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.910168

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