Electronics and photonics: two sciences in the benefit of solar energy conversion

M. Girtan

Published 2012-09-14Version 1

This paper gives a personal global point of view on two sciences: electronics and photonics towards plasmonics and solar energy conversion. The new research directions in these two sciences are pointed out by comparison and in the perspective of future new solar devices. A parallel and the equivalence between electronics and photonics are presented. Starting from electron in electronics, photon, solitons and plasmons in photonics, electrical cables - optical fibers, plasmonic wave guides, electrical circuits - optical circuits, electrical transistors - optical transistors, plasmonster, electrical generators - pulsed lasers and spasers, photonics gets step by step all the tools already existing in electronics. Solar energy could be converted in many ways, the most known is the conversion in electricity. Today we need that the energy is in form of electricity because most of the apparatus that we use are based on electricity: informatics, motors, etc. However, the progress in photonics with optical circuits, optical transistors etc., shows that the photonics informatics could be possible. Also the optical manipulation and optical engines concept were already demonstrated experimentally. If the laser propulsion will be achieved, and the optical engines will work, the question that will rise tomorrow is: "Shall we still use the electricity in the future? What will be the solar devices tomorrow?"