HK1180107B

HK1180107B - Conversion of high-energy photons into electricity

Info

Publication number: HK1180107B
Application number: HK13107277.4A
Authority: HK
Inventors: Toshiki Tajima; Michl Binderbauer
Original assignee: Tae Technologies, Inc.
Priority date: 2010-01-08
Filing date: 2011-01-01
Publication date: 2018-01-19

Description

Conversion of high energy photons to electricity

Technical Field

Embodiments described herein relate generally to photon energy conversion and, more particularly, to systems and methods that facilitate conversion of energy from high-energy photons to electricity.

Background

There are many known devices that convert photon energy in the optical range into electricity, such as, for example, photovoltaic cells ("solar cells"). These devices are typically constructed of at least two materials (i.e., silicon-based semiconductors) having different physical properties, such as different electron affinities (see "solar cell physics" by p. When one of the materials is illuminated by sunlight, solar photons excite photoelectrons from the valence band to the conduction band, which provides electromigration. The energy gap between the valence and conduction bands is typically on the order of electron volts, which is similar to the energy of the incident solar photons. The arrangement of two materials with different electron affinities induces a voltage across the material boundary that can be tapped off to obtain electrical energy.

However, there is no known device for converting energy from photons operating in high energy photon states such as XUV, X and gamma rays into electricity. Such devices may be used in a wide range of applications-for example, such devices may be used as energy converters for the conversion of high energy photons emitted by radioactive materials such as, for example, spent fission fuel rods, from detonation sources such as, for example, explosives, and from high temperature plasma and accelerated particle beams, and as devices in space applications, as power sources, shields, and the like. The difficulty in providing such devices arises from the high penetration of high energy photons into matter, due to the much less interaction of such photons with matter when compared to visible light, and from the fact that: that is, for most materials, the mean free path of an electron is typically shorter than the mean free path of a high-energy photon, by orders of magnitude. Due to this difference in mean free path, electrons emitted from atoms in the material used to capture the high-energy photons tend to yield to recombination, while their energy is converted to thermal energy within the high-energy photon capture material.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide systems and methods that facilitate the conversion of energy from high-energy photons to electricity.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments described herein are directed to the conversion of energy from high energy photons to electricity. The basic principles of the embodiments provided herein are based on the ejection of electrons from atoms by high-energy photons (including the ejection of deep-lying inner shell electrons from atoms of high atomic number (high-Z) materials). The ejected electrons carry kinetic energy that can cause the ejected electrons to migrate to different regions of the device where the accumulation of the ejected electrons can create an electrical potential that can in turn drive an external circuit. The photon spectrum of interest includes photons in invisible states including, but not limited to, XUV rays, X-rays, gamma rays, and the like.

The systems and methods provided herein employ a range of materials with different atomic charges to exploit the large number of electron emissions via a succession of auger electron emissions by a single high-energy photon. In one embodiment, the high-energy photon converter preferably comprises a linearly layered nanoscale wafer made of a combination of a first plurality of layers of a material for absorbing high-energy photons and emitting electrons and a second plurality of layers of other materials for absorbing or collecting electrons. The atomic charge number of the material of the second plurality of layers is different from the atomic charge number of the material of the first plurality of layers. The first and second plurality of layers are preferably laterally stacked side-by-side (i.e., face-to-face), interposed between each other and oriented at a grazing (shallow) angle to the direction of propagation of the high energy photons. In another embodiment, the nanoscale layers are configured in a tubular or shell-like configuration. In yet another embodiment, the layer comprises a third plurality of layers of insulating material.

The systems and methods described herein may be employed in a wide range of applications-energy conversion of high-energy photons from energy detection and absorption into particle accelerators and from other extremely hot substances (such as high temperature plasmas) and/or explosive sources (such as explosives) that emit large numbers of high-energy photons, energy capture of emissions of radioactive nuclear waste (such as spent fission fuel rods), and space applications (such as power supplies, shielding, etc.), as well as other applications that may readily occur to those of skill in the art.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the example embodiments will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description.

Drawings

Details of example embodiments, including structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Further, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other specific attributes may be illustrated schematically rather than actually or precisely.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a linear layered nanoscale high-energy photon converter element.

Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of an alternative linear layered nanoscale high-energy photon converter element.

Figure 1C is a schematic diagram of a high-energy photon converter that includes the array of linear, layered nanoscale converter elements shown in figure 1A.

Figure 1D is a schematic diagram of a high-energy photon converter that includes the array of linear, layered nanoscale converter elements shown in figure 1B.

FIG. 1E is a schematic diagram of a high energy photonic converter circuit.

Fig. 1F is a schematic diagram of an alternative high-energy photonic converter circuit coupled to an external circuit including a load.

Fig. 2A is a perspective view of a cylindrical layered nanoscale high-energy photonic converter element.

Figure 2B is a perspective view of an alternative cylindrical layered nanoscale high-energy photonic converter element.

Figure 2C is a perspective view of a high-energy photonic converter that includes the array of cylindrical layered nanoscale converter elements shown in figure 2A.

Figure 2D is an end view of a high energy photonic converter that includes the array of cylindrical layered nanoscale converter elements shown in figure 2B.

Fig. 2E, 2F and 2G are end views of high energy photon converters having alternative geometries.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the propagation characteristics of incident high-energy photons v and the electrons that are ejected from their atoms in a material layer by the incident high-energy photons vA graph of migration characteristics of (1).

Fig. 4A is a schematic diagram of a converter tile comprising a plurality of linearly stacked layers.

Fig. 4B is a perspective view of a converter plate comprising a plurality of linearly stacked layers.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an assembly of the sheets depicted in fig. 4A and 4B arranged along a conforming surface that intercepts and is substantially perpendicular to a photon flux emitted from a photon flux source.

Fig. 6A, 6B, and 6C are schematic diagrams illustrating an assembly of the sheets depicted in fig. 4A and 4B arranged along a conforming surface that intercepts and is substantially perpendicular to a photon flux emitted from a photon flux source.

It should be noted that elements having similar structures or functions are generally represented by like reference numerals throughout the figures for illustrative purposes. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the preferred embodiments.

Detailed Description

Each of the additional features and teachings disclosed below may be employed separately or in conjunction with other features and teachings to create systems and methods that facilitate the conversion of energy from high energy photons to electricity. Representative examples of the present invention, which examples employ many of these additional features and teachings both separately and in combination, will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing preferred aspects of the present teachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Therefore, combinations of features and steps disclosed in the following detailed description may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe representative examples of the present teachings.

In addition, various features of the representative examples and the dependent claims may be combined in ways that are not specifically and explicitly enumerated in order to provide additional useful embodiments of the present teachings. Furthermore, it is explicitly noted that all features disclosed in the description and/or the claims are intended to be disclosed separately and independently of each other for the purpose of original disclosure and for the purpose of limiting the claimed subject matter independently of the composition of the features in the embodiments and/or the claims. It is also expressly noted that all value ranges or indications of sets of entities disclose every possible intermediate value or intermediate entity for the purposes of original disclosure as well as for the purposes of limiting the claimed subject matter.

Embodiments described herein are directed to the conversion of energy from high energy photons (such as, for example, photons having energy preferably in the range of about 100eV or more) to electricity. The basic principle of the embodiments is based on the ejection of electrons from atoms by high-energy photons (including the ejection of deep-lying inner shell electrons from atoms of high atomic number (high-Z) materials). The ejected electrons carry kinetic energy that can cause the ejected electrons to migrate to different regions of the device where the accumulation of the ejected electrons can create an electrical potential that can be tapped off to drive an external circuit. The photon spectrum of interest includes photons that are preferably in an invisible state including, but not limited to, XUV rays, X-rays, gamma rays, and the like. The energy of such a photon is several orders of magnitude greater than the energy of a photon in the visible state, and therefore the margin for thermalization is also much greater (the thermal carnot coefficient is close to one). Due to the high incident photon energy, typically 100eV or higher, the systems and methods described herein enable exceptionally high efficiency energy conversion compared to other standard photon energy converters such as photovoltaic devices (e.g., solar cells) or devices based on the thermoelectric effect (e.g., seebeck effect).

As discussed in more detail below, the system and method for controlling this potentially very high gain efficiently directs the energy of the high-energy photons into a suitable form of electrical energy that can in turn be tapped to drive external circuitry, and thus cover a wide range of applications, including those in which a strong magnetic field is present (such that the electron dynamics are characterized by gyratory motion across the magnetic field). As a result, the systems and methods described herein may be employed in a wide range of applications-energy conversion from energy detection and absorption to high-energy photons in particle accelerators, direct energy conversion of high-energy photons from other extremely hot materials (such as high-temperature plasmas) and/or explosive sources that emit large numbers of high-energy photons (such as explosives), energy capture of emissions of radioactive nuclear waste (such as spent fission fuel rods), and space applications (such as power supplies, shielding, etc.), among others as will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.

The systems and methods described herein utilize a series of layers of materials with different atomic charges to take advantage of the large number of electron emissions via a succession of auger electron emissions by a single high-energy photon. In one embodiment, the high-energy photon converter preferably comprises a linearly layered nanoscale wafer made of a combination of a first plurality of layers of a material for absorbing high-energy photons and emitting electrons and a second plurality of layers of other materials for absorbing or collecting electrons emitted from the first plurality of layers. The atomic charge number of the material of the second plurality of layers is different from the atomic charge number of the material of the first plurality of layers. In another embodiment, the nanoscale layers are configured in a tubular or shell-like configuration. The nanoscale layer facilitates the separation of photoelectrons from donor atoms. With these structures, the resulting converter can reduce the power flux incident on materials that would otherwise be directly exposed to high-energy photons, thereby reducing the amount of heat exposure of these materials and also improving the degradation of materials that would otherwise be subject to severe high-energy photon irradiation damage.

Referring in detail to the drawings, a system and method for energy conversion from high energy photons to electricity with high efficiency is shown. For the purposes of the foregoing discussion, it is assumed that one or more transducer devices are embedded in a strong magnetic field that can critically affect the electron trajectory. However, as will be apparent from the following, depending on the characteristic length scale of the device, the electron orbital properties are minimally affected by the magnetic field (which has a practically obtainable strength), so that the embodiments are equally applicable to applications in which there is little or no magnetic field, such as spent fission fuel rod applications.

Referring to fig. 1A to 1F, an embodiment of a photonic energy converter having a linear structure is shown. As depicted in FIG. 1A, the most basic component or converter element 10 of a photonic energy converter having a linear structure is composed of a first layer 12 of A-type material, the first layer 12 of A-type material having a first atomic number Z₁And preferably includes high atomic number components such as, for example, refractory metals or metal oxides. The first layer 12 is preferably sandwiched between two layers 14 of type B material, the layers 14 of type B material having a second atomic number Z different from the atomic number of the first layer 12 of type A material₂And preferably comprises a metal: i.e. typically, the metal is preferablyCharacterized by a lower atomic number than the first layer 12 of type A material (i.e. Z)₂<Z₁). As depicted in fig. 1B, the base member 10 can optionally be reinforced by the addition of an insulating layer 16 of C-type material. An exemplary set of type a, type B, and type C materials may include, but are not limited to: a = tungsten (W), B = aluminum (Al), C = an insulating material such as SiO 2. Alternatively, the insulating layer may be only free-flowing helium gas, which can also act as a coolant. However, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other materials may be substituted in keeping with the spirit of the invention.

In the preferred embodiment depicted in fig. 1C and 1D, the converters 11 and 13 comprise a series or array of elementary structures that are laterally stacked side-by-side (i.e., face-to-face) until the theoretical maximum optical path length that the photons spend in all the a-type layers 12 is comparable to or greater than the mean free path of the high-energy photons v to be absorbed by the a-type material. As depicted in fig. 1C and 1D, one or more layers 14 of type B material are interposed between adjacent layers 12 of type a material, and optionally, a layer 16 of type C insulating material is interposed between adjacent layers 14 of type B material.

Stacking the building blocks or converter elements 10 side-by-side provides the overall structure with a geometry well suited to efficiently accommodate electron emission caused by the high-energy photons v absorbed in the type a material. As depicted in fig. 3, due to photonsIs perpendicular to the propagation direction of the photons v, so that the emitted electronsIs mainly in the plane P_eInner (where the appropriately decaying angular distribution leaves the plane, but the peak is on the plane), plane P_ePerpendicular to the propagation direction of the photon v (but such a plane contains the polarization of the photon v). As depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the layers 12 and 14 of the transducer element 10 are side-by-side in such a directionGround lamination: i.e. in such a direction that the normal vector of the boundary surface between the layers is substantially orthogonal to the propagation direction of the photon v. In one preferred configuration described below, the boundary surfaces between the layers can be aligned at a grazing angle (shallow angle) with respect to the direction of propagation of the incident high-energy photon v. As a result, electrons ejected from their atoms within the layer 12 of type a material by the incident high-energy photon vCan migrate substantially orthogonally into the adjacent layer 14 of type B material.

At the heart of the principle of each embodiment and any variants thereof is the requirement for emitted photoelectronsIs not trapped and/or absorbed in the layer of type a material 12 but is absorbed in the layer of type B material 14. To ensure the emitted electronsNot trapped within the layer 12 of type a material and increasing the emitted electronsPossibility of escaping or migrating from the layer 12 of type A material into the layer 14 of type B material, the thickness of each layer 12 of type A materialPreferably smaller than or comparable to the length of the mean free path of electrons in such a-type materials. Thickness of each layer 14 of type B materialPreferably greater than or comparable to the length of the mean free path of electrons in the B-type material. Preferably, the nanoscale arrangement of the layers of these embodiments reflects the following inherent physical principles: i.e. electron mean free path in type A materialsAnd electron mean free path in B-type materialsThe difference is not very large, while at the same time the photon mean free path in the a-type material is much smaller than in the B-type material, i.e.<<。

For example, for incident photons of 100 keV, typical layer thickness dimensions for these systems include: of type A materialsEqual to about 1 nm, of type B materialEqual to about 100 nm, of optional C-type materialIs adjusted to prevent arcing between adjacent layers if necessary. These dimensions are smaller than the electron's radius of gyration for magnetic fields B up to 10T. Thus, according to these length scales, electrons are not magnetized, but their dynamics are mainly in a collision state. As a result, the above-described transducer element 10 or transducers 11 and 13 are also suitable for applications where no magnetic field is present or the magnetic field is negligibly small.

Electrons emitted from atoms within the layer 12 of type A material by incident high-energy photons vMigration to an adjacent layer 14 of type B materialThe displacement results in the accumulation of charge and ultimately creates an electrical potential between the layer of type a material 12 and the layer of type B material 14. Referring to fig. 1E and 1F, all of the a-type layers 12 and the B-type layers 14 are connected to a circuit, so that each of the a-type layers 12 and each of the B-type layers 14 function as a separate electrode. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, there are an almost limitless number of options and alternatives for connecting layers or sets of layers in parallel or in series. The optimal arrangement of such circuits is advantageously application-determinable as a result. For example, the individual layers 12 and 14 can be connected in such a way that each layer 12 of type a material is connected to one of the nearest layers 14 of type B material as depicted in fig. 1E; alternatively, each layer 12 of type a material can be connected to one of the nearest layers 14 of type B material separated from the layer 12 of type a material by an insulating layer 16 of type C material as depicted in fig. 1F. In these configurations, the electrically coupled layers effectively form a nano-cell, and the spontaneously formed potential difference is comparable to the kinetic energy of the migrating electrons. The total voltage available to drive the load is equal to the voltage of the individual nano-battery cell 15 or the sum of the series connection of nano-battery cells 17 and 19. As depicted in fig. 1F, an external circuit 20 including a load 22 is coupled with the nano-battery cells 17 and 19, the nano-battery cells 17 and 19 being depicted as coupled in series, but may also be coupled in parallel. The load 22 may include an electrically drivable system or component, an energy storage system, an electrical grid, and the like.

Alternatively, by adjusting the load resistance of the circuit between the electrode layers 12 and 14, the steady-state voltage can be externally controlled, and the thickness dimension of the insulating layer 16 can be adjusted accordingly.

In another embodiment, the base member comprises a cylindrical tube or housing configuration. As shown in fig. 2A, the cylindrical converter element 110 includes a cylindrical core 112 of type a material, which cylindrical core 112 is surrounded by a cylindrical tube or housing 114 of type B material. It is also possible to optionally surround each housing 114 of type B material with an insulating housing 116 of type C material, as depicted in fig. 2B. In this cylindrical configuration, the same ruleThe dimensional rules apply to various thicknesses, i.e., the radius of the cylindrical core 112 of type A material is less than or comparable to, i.e., about one-half the mean free path of electrons in type A materialAnd the thickness of the shell 114 of type B material is comparable to the mean free path of electrons in type B material, i.e., approximately。

An advantage of the cylindrical tube or housing arrangement of the converter element 110 is its higher efficiency in capturing the emitted electrons, since the electrons are emitted with equal probability over the entire 360 ° azimuthal range. As depicted in fig. 3 and described above, electronsMainly in plane P_e(wherein the properly decaying angular distribution leaves the plane, but the peak appears on the plane) along a direction perpendicular to the propagation direction of the photon v and parallel to the polarization of the photon: (wherein) Is emitted in the direction of (a). Depending on the angle of polarization of the photons, the emitted electronsCan be oriented anywhere around 360 ° azimuth, and in such cases, the cylindrical arrangement of the cells results in higher electron capture in the B-type material and effectively results in higher electron capture efficiency than the linear configuration depicted in fig. 1A-1F.

Similar to the linear geometry converter described above, the cylindrical members 110 are bundled to form an overall structure that conforms to the same physical dimensional constraints as the linear geometry converter. As an example, one particular stacking arrangement 111 is depicted in fig. 2C. Alternatively, as depicted in fig. 2D, in another stacked arrangement 113, the insulating material 116 can fill void spaces between adjacent converter elements or cells 110. Such void spaces can also be used as conduits for circulating a gaseous coolant such as pressurized helium gas. This forms an effective cooling means since the absorption of photons by He is negligible for the photon energies of interest. The electrical connections are likewise similar to the linear geometry configuration and as such provide a number of different options in terms of the layers or shells 112 and 114 of the connecting member 110.

Alternative geometric configurations are shown in fig. 2E, 2F, and 2G. Fig. 2E shows a staggered linear stacked layered arrangement, where the layer of type a material 112 is offset to be positioned adjacent to the layer of type B material 114. Fig. 2F shows a plurality of cores 112 of type a material, the cores 112 being surrounded by type B material that fills the void spaces 114 between the cores 112. Although shown as square, the core 112 may be circular, oval, and the like. Fig. 2G is similar to the configuration in fig. 2D, except that the core 112 and shell layer 114 are square. In these cases, the elements 112, 114, and 116 are sized to conform to the same constraints discussed in fig. 1A-1C and 2A-2D. The electron dynamics at the edges of the squares are different, but other physical properties are substantially similar to the cylindrical case, except for these edge effects.

The basic building blocks in either geometry are, as mentioned above, composed of up to three types of materials, all of which are suitable for the spontaneous generation of electrons separated from the original sites of donor atoms that have been ionized by high-energy photons. This in turn causes a voltage to be generated between the layers and/or across the optional insulator. As described above, such an arrangement can be electrically connected with an electrical circuit to perform electrical work or to transfer power from the converter. As a further variation, it should be noted that an external voltage (bias voltage) may also be applied between the layers, which provides further control of the electrical characteristics and minimizes the likelihood of arcing across any of the layers.

Referring to fig. 4A and 4B, to maximize the surface area exposed to radiation to ensure that the incident high-energy photon v is captured by the layer of type a material 212 and not just through the layer of type B material 214, the stacked layers of type a material 212 and type B material 214 and optional layer of type C insulating material 216 of the converter plate or cell 200 are preferably inclined at a grazing angle (shallow angle) θ, which may be on the order of about 1/100 radians, for example, to the direction of propagation of the incident high-energy photon v. Tilting the converter tile 200 also ensures adequate cooling of the bombarded type a material and minimizes the thickness of each individual layer 212 of type a material (relative to the mean free path of electrons) and the total effective thickness of all layers 212 of type a material in the entire converter assembly. Tilting the converter tile 200 at a glancing angle also causes electrons to be ejected predominantly perpendicular to the surface of the type a material. This also reduces the necessary number of repeating layers per sheet 200 to the original about 1/theta, since the transmission distance in a-type material is improved by the same factor as compared to the case where the orientation angle phi of the surface of the sheet 200 is organized orthogonal to the propagation direction of the incident high-energy photon v. This also maximizes the escape of electrons to the adjacent layer of B-type material.

In an alternative embodiment, the transducer tile 200 depicted in fig. 4A and 4B includes a plurality of cylindrical transducer elements 110 (shown in fig. 2A and 2B) stacked side-by-side and inclined at a grazing angle θ.

Referring to fig. 4B, in order to efficiently absorb most high-energy photons, with energies on the order of about 100 keV, the height H of the device needs to extend along the primary direction of predominant photon propagation for a length on the order of about 1 centimeter (1 cm). This is due to the desire to intercept the entire photon flux in the photon propagation direction by type a material having a sufficient total thickness. Since the thickness of each layer of type B material is typically much greater than the thickness of each layer of type a material (ii) ((iii))<<) The total height H of the complete stack of structures projected into the photon flux direction needs to be much larger than the mean free path of a particular photon in type a material to ensure that high energy photons meet type a material over a total distance greater than their mean free path in such material. Thus, the height of the complete stack of components should exceed the mean free path of photons in the a-type material and at least be itOr at least in the case of including an insulating layerAnd (4) doubling.

As mentioned above, the overall arrangement also provides for efficient cooling of the converter material when the converter material is heated by photon absorption and subsequent electronic heating. As depicted in fig. 4A, cooling is facilitated because the total surface area in this embodiment is increased by 1/θ compared to a simple arrangement of layering the stack at an orientation angle Φ perpendicular to the direction of the incident photon flux. It is also possible to flow pressurized gas coolant through ducts built into the structure or simply to connect the stack to a heat sink. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many other ways to enhance cooling may exist and the specific implementation will be determined by the particular application.

As depicted in fig. 5, the assembly 220 of converter tiles 200 can be arranged along a conforming surface 230, the conforming surface 230 intercepting and being substantially perpendicular to a photon flux 242 emitted from a given photon flux source 240. This configuration provides flexibility and adaptability for a wide range of applications that may require (or benefit from) energy generation from the emitted photon flux.

Other examples of general geometries for typical applications are depicted in fig. 6A, 6B, and 6C. Fig. 6A shows a plasma confinement system 300 including a cylindrical chamber 330 having a surface 334, the surface 334 intercepting and being substantially perpendicular to a photon flux 342 emitted from a photon flux source 340, shown as a thermal plasma. The restraint system 300 also includes a magnetic field generator 332 positioned along the cylindrical chamber 330 and an array 332 of converter tiles 200 secured along a surface 334 of the chamber 330. Each of the sheets is oriented at a glancing angle to the direction of propagation of the incident high-energy photons v of the photon flux 342. Fig. 6B shows a confinement system 400 including a cylindrical vessel 430 having a surface 434, the surface 434 intercepting and being substantially perpendicular to a photon flux 442 emitted from a photon flux source 440, shown as a thermal plasma or a spent fission fuel rod. The restraint system 400 also includes an array 432 of converter tiles 200 secured around a surface 434 of the container 430. Each of the tiles is oriented at a glancing angle to the direction of propagation of the incident high energy photon v of the photon flux 442. Fig. 6C shows a particle acceleration system 500 comprising a cylindrical tube 530 having a surface 534, surface 534 intercepting and substantially perpendicular to a photon flux 542 emitted from a photon flux source 540, shown as an accelerated particle beam. The acceleration system 500 further includes a magnetic field generator 532 positioned along the cylindrical tube 530 and an array 532 of converter tiles 200 secured along a surface 534 of the tube 530. Each of the sheets is oriented at a glancing angle to the direction of propagation of the incident high energy photon v of the photon flux 542.

In each case, the emitted high-energy photons meet such a material a over a total distance greater than their mean free path in the a-type material. This ensures that they are properly absorbed by the atoms in the type a layer and ensures the eventual amplified conversion of photons to electron current. Around the flux-emitting block, the type a material densely covers all surface area exposed to the high-energy photon flux while allowing cooling and electrical connections.

It should be noted that according to the embodiments provided herein, a plurality of electrons are emitted from a particular atom in the type a material due to absorption of a high energy photon. This is because electrons knocked out of a particular deep electron inner shell state create vacancies that are rapidly filled by auger processes, which in turn trigger the second and third auger processes, or a cascade of processes. In addition, second photon re-emission can further trigger such processes in neighboring atoms. Accordingly, one photon can in principle trigger a total emission of about 100 electrons (and sometimes more). Thus, this multiple ionization provides a dual benefit. First, it acts to multiply the electron mass of each original incident photon by a factor of 100 to 1,000, which results in high current amplification. Second, it functions to reduce electron energy from several tens of keV to only several tens of eV. Thus, the voltage generated is manageable with respect to breakdown concerns. This provides enhanced conversion of photon energy to electricity (its charge and current) while it also minimizes heating of the target. In practice, the system is used as an efficient cooling device by removing most of the deposited photon energy (by electrical energy) from the material located beside the photon source, and easily transporting the converted energy to remote locations not in the vicinity of the radiation.

However, the example embodiments provided herein are intended only as illustrative examples and are not intended to be limiting in any way. In addition, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that similar systems can be equally applied to photons of different energies with appropriate modification of the parameters.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the reader is to understand that the specific ordering and combination of process actions shown in the process flow diagrams described herein is merely illustrative, and the invention can be performed using different or additional process actions, or a different combination or ordering of process actions, unless otherwise specified. As another example, each feature of one embodiment can be mixed and matched with other features shown in other embodiments. Features and processes known to those of ordinary skill in the art may similarly be combined as desired. Additionally and clearly, features may be added or subtracted as desired. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A high energy photonic energy converter for converting high energy photonic emissions to electrical energy, comprising:

a first material layer that absorbs high energy photons and emits electrons that are ejected from atoms in the first material layer by the absorbed high energy photons in the first material layer, the first layer having a thickness that is less than a length of a mean free path of the ejected electrons in the first material layer, wherein the high energy photons are in an invisible state; and

a second material layer collecting electrons emitted from the first material layer and electrically coupled with the first material layer, the second material layer having a thickness greater than a length of a mean free path of electrons emitted from the first material layer in the second material layer;

wherein the first material layer and the second material layer form a converter element, wherein the converter element is laterally stackable adjacent to other converter elements, wherein a total thickness of the first material layer, measured in a propagation direction of high energy photons in the converter element, is larger than a length of a mean free path of the high energy photons in the first material.

2. The converter of claim 1 further comprising a third layer of material coupled with the second layer of material, the third layer of material comprising an insulating material.

3. The converter of claim 1 wherein the first and second layers are stacked face-to-face.

4. The converter of claim 1 wherein the first material layer is configured as a cylindrical core and the second material layer is configured as a cylindrical shell disposed about the cylindrical core, wherein the radius of the cylindrical core is less than 1/2 of the length of the mean free path of the ejected electrons in the first material.

5. The converter of claim 4 further comprising a third layer of insulating material configured as a cylindrical shell disposed about the cylindrical shell of the second layer of material.

6. The converter of any one of claims 1 through 5 wherein the first layer of material comprises a high atomic charge number component.

7. The converter of claim 6 wherein the high atomic charge number component is a refractory metal or metal oxide.

8. The converter of claim 6 wherein the high atomic charge number component is tungsten.

9. The converter of any one of claims 1 to 5 and 7 to 8, wherein the atomic charge number of the second material layer is different from the atomic charge number of the first material layer.

10. The converter of any one of claims 1 to 5 and 7 to 8, wherein the atomic charge number of the second material layer is lower than the atomic charge number of the first material layer.

11. The converter of any one of claims 1 to 5 and 7 to 8, wherein the second material layer is a metal.

12. The converter of claim 11 wherein the metal is aluminum.

13. The converter of claim 2 or 5 wherein the third material layer is SiO 2.

14. The converter of claim 1 wherein the first material layer is sandwiched between the second material layer and a third material layer comprising the same material as the second material layer.

15. The converter of any one of claims 1 through 5, 7 through 8, 12, and 14 wherein the energy of the high energy photons absorbable by the first material layer is in the range of 100eV or greater.

16. The converter of any one of claims 1 through 5, 7 through 8, 12, and 14 wherein the high energy photons absorbable by the first layer of material include X, XUV or gamma rays.

17. The converter of any one of claims 1 through 5, 7 through 8, 12, and 14, wherein the first and second layers of material are coupled to a circuit having a load.

18. The converter of claim 17, wherein the load is an electrically drivable component, an electrical power storage system, or an electrical grid.

19. The converter of any one of claims 1 through 5, 7 through 8, 12, 14, and 17 wherein the first and second layers of material are couplable to a surface that intercepts a photon flux emitted from a photon flux source and is substantially perpendicular to a direction of propagation thereof, and wherein each of the first and second layers is oriented at a grazing angle to the direction of propagation of the photon flux.

20. An energy converter for converting high-energy photon emissions into electrical energy, comprising:

a first plurality of layers of a first material that absorbs high energy photons and emits electrons that are ejected from atoms in the first material by the high energy photons absorbed in the first material, each layer of the first plurality of layers having a thickness that is less than a length of a mean free path of the ejected electrons in the first material, wherein the high energy photons are in an invisible state, and wherein a total thickness of the first plurality of layers of the first material, measured along a direction of propagation of the high energy photons, is greater than the length of the mean free path of the high energy photons in the first material; and

a second plurality of layers of a second material that collects electrons emitted from the first plurality of layers of the first material and is electrically coupled with the first plurality of layers of the first material, each layer of the second plurality of layers of the second material having a thickness that is greater than a length of a mean free path in the second material of electrons emitted from the first plurality of layers of the first material, wherein one or more layers of the second plurality of layers of the second material are interposed between adjacent layers of the first plurality of layers of the first material.

21. The converter of claim 20 further comprising a third plurality of layers of a third material, each layer of the third plurality of layers being interposed between adjacent layers of the one or more layers of the second plurality of layers of the second material.

22. The converter of claim 20 wherein the first and second plurality of layers are stacked face-to-face.

23. The converter of claim 20 wherein each layer of the first plurality of layers of the first material is configured as a cylindrical core and each layer of the second plurality of layers of the second material is configured as a cylindrical shell concentrically disposed about the cylindrical core of the first material, wherein a radius of the cylindrical core is less than 1/2 a length of a mean free path of the ejected electrons in the first material.

24. The converter of claim 23 further comprising a third plurality of layers of a third insulating material configured as a cylindrical shell concentrically disposed about the cylindrical shell of the second material.

25. The converter of any one of claims 20 through 24 wherein the first material comprises a high atomic charge number component.

26. The converter of claim 25 wherein the high atomic charge number component is a refractory metal or metal oxide.

27. The converter of claim 25 wherein the high atomic charge number component is tungsten.

28. The converter of any one of claims 20 to 24 and 26 to 27 wherein the atomic charge number of the second material is different from the atomic charge number of the first material.

29. The converter of any one of claims 20 to 24 and 26 to 27 wherein the atomic charge number of the second material is lower than the atomic charge number of the first material.

30. The converter of any one of claims 20 through 24 and 26 through 27 wherein the second material is a metal.

31. The converter of claim 30 wherein the metal is aluminum.

32. The converter of claim 21 wherein the third material is SiO 2.

33. The converter of claim 20 wherein each layer of the first plurality of layers of the first material is sandwiched between two layers of the second plurality of layers of the second material.

34. The converter of any one of claims 20 through 24, 26 through 27, and 31 through 33 wherein the high energy photons absorbable by the first material have energies in the range of 100eV or greater.

35. The converter of any one of claims 20 through 24, 26 through 27, and 31 through 33 wherein the high energy photons absorbable by the first layer of material include X, XUV or gamma rays.

36. The converter of any one of claims 20 through 24, 26 through 27, and 31 through 33, wherein the first and second plurality of layers are coupled to a circuit having a load.

37. The converter of claim 36, wherein the load is an electrically drivable component, an electrical power storage system, or an electrical grid.

38. The converter of any one of claims 20 through 24, 26 through 27, 31 through 33, and 37 wherein the first and second plurality of material layers are couplable to a surface that intercepts a photon flux emitted from a photon flux source and is substantially perpendicular to a direction of propagation thereof, and wherein each of the first and second plurality of layers is oriented at a grazing angle to the direction of propagation of the photon flux.

39. The converter of claim 38 wherein each layer of the first plurality of layers of the first material is configured as a cylindrical core and each layer of the second plurality of layers of the second material is configured as a cylindrical shell concentrically disposed about the cylindrical core of the first material, wherein a radius of the cylindrical core is less than 1/2 a length of a mean free path of the ejected electrons in the first material.

40. The converter of claim 39 further comprising a third plurality of layers of a third insulating material configured as a cylindrical shell concentrically disposed about the cylindrical shell of the second material.

41. An energy converter system for converting high-energy photon emissions into electrical energy, comprising:

a wall surrounding a photon flux source and having a surface intercepting a photon flux emitted from the photon flux source and substantially perpendicular to its direction of propagation, wherein the photon flux comprises high energy photons in an invisible state; and

a plurality of converter tiles covering the surface of the wall, each converter tile comprising:

a first plurality of layers of a first material that absorbs the high energy photons and emits electrons that are ejected from atoms in the first material by the high energy photons absorbed in the first material, each layer of the first plurality of layers having a thickness that is less than a length of a mean free path of the ejected electrons in the first material, wherein a total thickness of the plurality of layers of the first material in the converter tile, measured along a direction of propagation of the photon flux, is greater than the length of the mean free path of the photons of the photon flux in the first material; and

42. The converter system of claim 41 wherein each of the first and second plurality of layers is oriented at a grazing angle to a direction of propagation of the photon flux.

43. The converter system of claim 41 each converter tile further comprising a third plurality of layers of a third material, each layer of the third plurality of layers interposed between adjacent layers of the one or more layers of the second plurality of layers of the second material.

44. The converter system of claim 41 wherein the first and second plurality of layers are stacked face-to-face.

45. The converter system of claim 41 wherein each layer of the first plurality of layers of the first material is configured as a cylindrical core and each layer of the second plurality of layers of the second material is configured as a cylindrical shell concentrically disposed about the cylindrical core of the first material, wherein a radius of the cylindrical core is less than 1/2 a length of a mean free path of the ejected electrons in the first material.

46. The converter system of claim 45 wherein each converter tile further comprises a third plurality of layers of a third insulating material configured as a cylindrical shell concentrically disposed about the cylindrical shell of the second material.

47. The converter system of any one of claims 41 through 46 wherein the first material comprises a high atomic charge number component.

48. The converter system of claim 47 wherein the high atomic charge number component is a refractory metal or metal oxide.

49. The converter system of claim 47 wherein the high atomic charge number component is tungsten.

50. The converter system of any one of claims 41 to 46 and 48 to 49 wherein the atomic charge number of the second material is different from the atomic charge number of the first material.

51. The converter system of any one of claims 41 to 46 and 48 to 49 wherein the atomic charge number of the second material is lower than the atomic charge number of the first material.

52. The converter system of any one of claims 41 to 46 and 48 to 49 wherein the second material is a metal.

53. The converter system of claim 52 wherein the metal is aluminum.

54. The converter system of claim 43 wherein the third material is SiO 2.

55. The converter system of claim 41 wherein each layer of the first plurality of layers of the first material is sandwiched between two layers of the second plurality of layers of the second material.

56. The converter system of any one of claims 41 through 46, 48 through 49, and 53 through 55 wherein the energy of the high energy photons absorbable by the first material is in the range of 100eV or greater.

57. The converter system of any one of claims 41 through 46, 48 through 49, and 53 through 55 wherein the high energy photons absorbable by the first layer of material comprise X, XUV or gamma rays.

58. The converter system of any one of claims 41-46, 48-49 and 53-55 wherein the first and second plurality of layers are coupled with a circuit having a load.

59. The converter system of claim 58 wherein the load is an electrically drivable component, an electrical power storage system or an electrical grid.

60. A method for converting energy from high energy photons into electricity, comprising the steps of:

absorbing high energy photons in a photon flux emitted from a photon flux source in one of a first plurality of layers of a first material coupled with a surface of a wall surrounding the photon flux source, the surface being substantially perpendicular to a direction of propagation of the photon flux, wherein the high energy photons are in an invisible state, and wherein a total thickness of the first plurality of layers of the first material measured along the direction of propagation of the photon flux is greater than a length of a mean free path of photons of the photon flux in the first material; and

collecting one or more electrons emitted from atoms in the first material by the high-energy photons in one of a second plurality of layers of a second material;

wherein a thickness of each layer of the first plurality of layers of the first material is less than a length of a mean free path of the ejected electrons in the first material, wherein the second plurality of layers of the second material is electrically coupled with the first plurality of layers of the first material, wherein each layer of the first and second plurality of layers is oriented at a grazing angle to a direction of propagation of the photon flux.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein each layer of the second plurality of layers of the second material has a thickness greater than a length of a mean free path in the second material for electrons emitted from the first material, wherein one or more layers of the second plurality of layers of the second material are interposed between adjacent layers of the first plurality of layers of the first material.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the first and second plurality of layers are stacked face-to-face.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein each layer of the first plurality of layers of the first material is configured as a cylindrical core and each layer of the second plurality of layers of the second material is configured as a cylindrical shell concentrically disposed about the cylindrical core of the first material, wherein a radius of the cylindrical core is less than 1/2 a length of a mean free path of the ejected electrons in the first material.

64. The method of any one of claims 60 to 63, wherein the first material comprises a high atomic charge number component.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein the high atomic charge number component is a refractory metal or metal oxide.

66. The method of claim 64 wherein the high atomic charge number component is tungsten.

67. The method of any one of claims 60 to 63, 65 and 66, wherein the atomic charge number of the second material is different from the atomic charge number of the first material.

68. The method of any one of claims 60 to 63, 65 and 66, wherein the atomic charge number of the second material is lower than the atomic charge number of the first material.

69. The method of any one of claims 60 to 63, 65, and 66, wherein the second material is a metal.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the metal is aluminum.

71. The method of claim 60, wherein each layer of the first plurality of layers of the first material is sandwiched between two layers of the second plurality of layers of the second material.

72. The method of any one of claims 60-63, 65, 66, 70, and 71, wherein the energy of the high energy photons absorbable by the first material is in the range of 100eV or greater.

73. The method of any one of claims 60-63, 65, 66, 70, and 71, wherein the high energy photons absorbable by the first material layer comprise X, XUV or gamma rays.