Theoretical study of AC photothermal response of semiconductor p-n junction devices [solar cells]

A theoretical study of AC photothermal responses of semiconductor p-n junction devices in the photogenerated (or applied) voltage is presented. It covers the entire set of optical, electronic, thermal, and geometric parameters involved in the operation of conventional p-n junction devices. The coupling between DC and AC components of the time-dependent transport equations of the minority carriers is considered in the theoretical analyses, and the thermalization due to the minority carriers across the space-charge region is taken into account