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Full-Text Articles in Physics
Construction And Improvement Of A Scheffler Reflector And Thermal Storage Device, Jason Rapp
Construction And Improvement Of A Scheffler Reflector And Thermal Storage Device, Jason Rapp
Physics
We constructed and successfully tested a 2 m2 parabolic dish solar concentrator (Scheffler Concentrator) to focus sunlight onto a stationary target. Present efforts are to decrease the construction complexity and cost of the concentrator. In order to store solar heat, we also constructed and are testing a thermal storage device made of sand (for thermal mass), and pumice (for insulation). Preliminary tests indicate thermal retention times of many hours. Present efforts are to increase accessible power, and structural integrity.
Reflectivity Of A Cholesteric Liquid Crystal, Justin Lawson
Reflectivity Of A Cholesteric Liquid Crystal, Justin Lawson
Physics
In this paper we investigate the light properties of a chiral liquid crystal or a crystal for which the director angle relative to some fixed axis changes as a function of the crystal depth. Sometimes a dopant can introduce a chirality or "twist" in a nematic liquid crystal. For such cases of non-linear depth dependence (where chirality is determined by a diffusion equation) we may use this research to work backwards from a crystal's light properties to intensity and duration of dopant exposure.