Introduction

It is a method of simulating sunlight through the use of low-cost lamps. The testing system (conceived for CubeSat) is capable of illuminating objects with effects similar to those generated by the spectrum and intensity of sunlight outside the atmosphere (AM0) or on the earth’s surface (AM1). A spectrum equal to that of sunlight is not generated but the differences are compensated for each type of material to be measured.

Technical features

A new method for building a ‘solar simulator’ is presented. A simulator of this type is a system that generates illuminance of intensity and spectrum similar to that of the sun, in order to carry out mainly two types of measurements: thermal measurements and photoelectric measurements on space structures and on solar cells, both space and terrestrial. Although having spectral characteristics different from the optimal ones, it compensates for this difference with a greater or lesser illuminance based on the component, the type of measurement and the material to be measured by solar illuminance. Measurement accuracy is certainly lower (in any case compatible with most practical low-cost applications) but at a lower cost by at least a factor of 5, up to 10 depending on the case compared to the systems currently used.

Possible Applications

• Test systems for thermal and photoelectric measurements of components of various materials.

Advantages

• 5-10 times lower cost factor than Xenon lamps;
• Possibility to illuminate complete systems based on solar cells versus post-compensation techniques;
• Fewer problems compared to generation techniques by combining light from different sources;
• Modularity and ease of maintenance.