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attery-powered electric
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seen advances in their
not
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One potential way to create a moving holographic video instead of just a static
hologram would involves displays with pixels that can alter the way they bend light.
However, these pixels would have to be close to the size of the light waves they are bending,
and there is currently no easy or cheap way to create such pixels.
Another technique would use precisely engineered sound waves to squeeze and stretch
a transparent material, changing the degree to which it bends light, or its index of refraction.
This strategy, called acousto-optic modulation, could create a display that alters the way it
scatters light over time, potentially generating holographic videos. However, an early
prototype using this method relied on crystals of an expensive transparent material called
tellurium dioxide, and could not generate images with a suitable resolution for TVs.
"The prototype used some of the largest crystals of tellurium dioxide every grown,
these $25,000 custom pieces of equipment," said study co-author Daniel Smalley, an
electrical engineer and media arts and sciences researcher at Brigham Young University in
Provo, Utah.
Now, scientists are developing holographic displays using common and much cheaper
crystals that could generate high-resolution videos.
"We're using crystals that cost just $2," Smalley told Live Science.
The foundations of this display are crystals of lithium niobate, a material often used in
mobile phones and telecommunications networks. Under the surface of each crystal, the
researchers etched a microscopic channel, or "waveguide," that serves as a tunnel for light. A
metal electrode is then deposited onto each waveguide.
"We can use basic fabrication techniques borrowed from the semiconductor industry to
make these devices," Smalley said. "This brings cost down by several orders of magnitude.
Hopefully, this means we can make large holographic displays for the first time."
The crystals are piezoelectric, which means that when an electric current is applied to
them, they generate acoustic waves that travel like ripples across their surfaces. These
acoustic waves can distort the shape of the crystals, which in turn can alter their indexes of
refraction and therefore influence any light waves traveling inside them.
To generate a holographic image, lasers of three colors (red, green and blue) are fired
into each waveguide. The frequencies of the acoustic waves passing through each crystal
determine which colors pass through and which colors are filtered out. The light waves that
come out of the waveguides then interact with each other to produce a holographic image.
A holographic video display would stack many of these waveguides alongside each
other. Each waveguide is only a few microns wide, and they can be spaced a few dozen
microns apart. In comparison, the average human hair is about 100 microns wide.
The researchers suggest they can manufacture a device that can display 50 billion pixels
per second. This could provide 3D images at the same kind of resolutions and frame rates
seen in standard-definition TV. Now, the challenge will be to develop a computer powerful
enough to provide all the data needed to generate these holographic videos, Smalley said.
#1 Kyocera KD315GX-LPB
The Kyocera KD315GX-LPB solar panel gets top marks for its high solar efficiency, which is
the amount of energy converted from sunlight per unit of surface area in the panel. At 16
percent, this solar panel is not the most efficient on the market, but it ranks high. (Siliconbased solar cells like this one usually operate at an efficiency of 18 percent or lower,
according to the University of Pennsylvania.) The Kyocera KD315GX-LPB panels are also
durable and come with a complete five-year warranty. The company guarantees that the
panels' power output will remain at 80 percent of the minimum power promised by
manufacturers for at least 20 years.
The panels meet industry standards for withstanding loads (it can hold up under 113
pounds per square foot of pressure from snow or ice on the roof) and can handle a beating by
hailstones with a 1-inch diameter in winds of up to 51 mph.
Ease of use: As with any solar panel array, you'll need to check your local regulations and
permitting requirements before installing. You can mount Kyocera solar panels yourself if
you're handy enough and if your local laws allow it. Experts advise against doing so unless
you really know what you're doing, however.
"It is best to get a professional installer to install them," Cleveland told Live Science.
"There is serious danger working with electricity, so someone not properly trained to install a
system can easily get hurt or killed."
A few notes on choosing an installer: The U.S. Department of Energy recommends
approaching this step with care. Home owners should ask potential contractors about their
level of experience installing both on-grid and off-grid photovoltaic systems. Most home
owners will want on-grid installation, meaning your solar system is interconnected with the
local power grid. Be sure the contractor you hire is licensed and certified, and that there are
no legal complaints against them. Your state electrical board and the Better Business Bureau
are good resources for finding this out.
The Kyocera panels are easy to maintain, requiring only occasional cleaning with water
and mild detergent and an annual check of the connections and hardware.
Help and support: The company provides answers to frequently asked questions on its
website and will respond to individual queries by phone and email. There is no online live
chat option for support, a downside of this brand.
#2 Canadian Solar CS6X-305M
Founded in 2001, Canadian solar offers its panels in 50 countries around the globe. The
company's Canadian Solar CS6X-305M model took second place in the Top Ten Reviews
rankings for power, durability and visual appeal. The panels' shape is more rectangular than
Kyocera's offering, which may appeal to some homeowners. The efficiency of these panels is
rated at 15.9 percent, barely behind the No. 1 Kyocera model. The Canadian panels also meet
industry standards for durability and are able to handle up to 113 pounds of snow per square
foot. The warranty guarantees 95 percent output for one year, and 80 percent output for 25
years.
Ease of use: Though the installation of this model is not significantly different than that for
other solar panels, the model is advertised as self-washing. That means that with a sufficient
roof angle, rain will keep dirt and dust off the solar panel surface. However, owners may still
need to take a sponge and soapy water to the panels on occasion if they get particularly dirty.
Help and support: Canada Solar offers support by phone and by email, and the company's
website includes some information on frequently asked questions. There is no live chat or
blog, making the company slightly harder to reach than competitors. Canada Solar offers a
10-year warranty on materials and workmanship.
#3 Grape Solar 390W
Grape Solar is a Eugene, Oregon-based company founded in 2009. It makes solar panels,
largely manufactured in Asia but assembled in the United States. The Grape Solar 390W
panel has an efficiency percentage of 15.21, a solid number, and can handle 50 pounds of
snow per square foot. The warranty promises 90-percent power output for 10 years and 80percent output for 25 years. Grape works with Costco and Home Depot and has a network of
installers throughout the United States.
Ease of use: These solar panels can be cleaned with just water, no soap necessary. Top Ten
Reviews rated Grape Solar's phone-based customer service as "first rate." You can also
contact the company via email or get in touch with the its technical team through a customer
hotline.