A numerical analysis of the effect of partially-coherent light in photovoltaic devices considering coherence length.

We propose a method for calculating the optical response to partially-coherent light based on the coherence length. Using a Fourier transform of a randomly-generated partially-coherent wave, we demonstrate that the reflectance, transmittance, and absorption with the incidence of partially-coherent light can be calculated from the Poynting vector of the incident coherent light. We also demonstrate that the statistical field distribution of partially-coherent light can be obtained from the proposed method using a rigorous coupled wave analysis. The optical characteristics of grating structures in photovoltaic devices are analyzed as a function of coherence length. The method is capable of providing a general procedure for analyzing the incoherent optical characteristics of thick layers or nano particles in photovoltaic devices with the incidence of partially-coherent light. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America