Nebula Public Library

Motivation:
To provide a proof-of-concept demonstration of light rectification in a nano-rectenna as an alternative energy conversation process to semiconductor solar cells based on the photovoltaic effect. For space this alternative energy conversion process could enable applications under different environmental conditions (e.g. temperature ranges, radiation) and offer the advantage of higher theoretical conversion efficiency.
Methodology:
To provide a proof-of-concept demonstration of rectennas working at high frequencies through the development of:

The ERICA team set up an ad-hoc measurement campaign (March-October 2015) carried on with contribution of local experts in Indonesia and Vietnam, who conducted the data collection with ground-based instruments deployed in the footprints of EIA and EIT. The set of instruments included scintillation and Total Electron Content (TEC) monitors, magnetometers, and ionosondes. Collected data comprehend raw and processed data from GNSS scintillation monitors and variation of the components of the geomagnetic field.