An arbitrarily programmable solar simulator based on a liquid crystal spatial light modulator

We describe the design, operation, and application of a programmable super-continuum solar simulator which incorporates a liquid crystal spatial light modulator to precisely control the spectral content within a prism-based spectrometer. Closed-loop operation of the simulator was used to optimize the output spectrum to match target profiles. Spectra are presented which simulate arbitrary irradiance profiles, an AM 1.5 solar reference spectrum, light biasing for multijunctions, and a dynamic light source for quantum efficiency measurements. Variable blue-rich and red-rich light-biasing spectra were used to demonstrate the current limiting behavior of a GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cell. The simulator light propagates as a beam with a single spatial mode, making it suitable for a variety of applications, including those that require a micrometer-scale focus.