Applications
The two design problems that nonimaging optics solves better than imaging optics are:
- solar energy concentration: maximizing the amount of energy applied to a receiver, typically a solar cell or a thermal receiver
- illumination: controlling the distribution of light, typically so it is "evenly" spread over some areas and completely blocked from other areas
Typical variables to be optimized at the target include the total radiant flux, the angular distribution of optical radiation, and the spatial distribution of optical radiation. These variables on the target side of the optical system often must be optimized while simultaneously considering the collection efficiency of the optical system at the source.
Read more about this topic: Nonimaging Optics