Interplay of thermoelectric cooling and electroluminescence refrigeration in LEDs

Vibration-free solid-state optical coolers are promising candidates to replace mechanical Stirling coolers in many applications, especially in satellites and other space based systems. Among the many possible approaches, electroluminescence refrigeration using light emitting diodes (LEDs) is a highly desirable approach since LEDs are easy to integrate with electronic and optical devices to provide local cooling. Since electroluminescence refrigeration in LEDs involves both thermoelectric (TE) and optical processes, the interplay between these effects needs to be understood. In this paper, the study of electroluminescence refrigeration involving TE cooling effects in LEDs is presented. Unlike conventional TE coolers, which only provide heat transfer, electroluminescence coolers can achieve net cooling.