Compact hybrid solar simulator with the spectral match beyond class A

A compact hybrid solar simulator with the spectral match beyond class A is proposed. Six types of high-power light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and tungsten halogen lamps in total were employed to obtain spectral match with <25% deviation from the standardized one in twelve spectral ranges between 400 and 1100 nm. All spectral ranges were twice as narrow than required by IEC 60904-9 Ed.2.0 and ASTM E927-10(2015) standards. Nonuniformity of the irradiance was evaluated and <2% deviation from the average value of the irradiance (corresponding to A class nonuniformity) can be obtained for the area of >3-cm diameter. A theoretical analysis was performed to evaluate possible performance of our simulator in the case of GaInP/GaAs/GaInAsP/GaInAs four-junction tandem solar cells and AM1.5D (ASTM G173-03 standard) spectrum. Lack of ultraviolet radiation in comparison to standard spectrum leads to 6.94% reduction of short-circuit current, which could be remedied with 137% increase of the output from blue LEDs. Excess of infrared radiation from halogen lamps outside ranges specified by standards is expected to lead to ∼0.77% voltage increase.