Energy conversion system

Abstract

A method of emitting photons at a desired wavelength, including: providing a material having a first region of high absorption of radiation at a first set of wavelength of radiation, contiguous with a second region of low absorption of radiation at a shorter set of wavelengths, and a third region of high emission at a further shorter set of wavelengths; applying energy to the material at the first region, such that most of an effective black body radiation of said material at a temperature of the material would fall within the second region and be configured to transfer energy to said third region and not overlap with the first region; and emitting energy from the material at the third region, powered by said applying energy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for using an energy conversion apparatus to convert incoming radiation to electrical energy comprising:
 receiving incoming radiation from a radiation source external to an energy conversion apparatus;   heating a photoluminescent material to a temperature T, where T>(Eg 2 −Eg 1 )/3Kb where Eg 2  is a band-gap energy of a photovoltaic material, Eg 1  is a band-gap energy of said photoluminescent material, and Kb is the Boltzmann constant;   using said photoluminescent material to absorb said incoming radiation and emit radiation at a wavelength matching an absorption wavelength of a photovoltaic material; and   placing a photovoltaic cell comprising said photovoltaic material to absorb said emitted radiation and generate electricity.