title: Splitting of absorptance peaks in absorbing multilayer backed by a periodically corrugated metallic reflector.
abstract: The excitation of modes of an open-face slab waveguide by light incident on a thin-film photovoltaic solar cell with a periodically corrugated metal backreflector is indicated by peaks in the absorptance spectrum. An absorptance peak due to the excitation of a waveguide mode (WGM) can split as the corrugation depth increases. The splitting can be explained in terms of the wavenumbers of the WGMs of two open-face slab waveguides with different thicknesses of the semiconductor layer. The splitting of short-wavelength peaks occurs for smaller corrugation depths than the splitting of long-wavelength peaks, suggesting that the corrugations need not be very deep for optimal absorption of solar photons.
authors.forename: Mikhail V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Shuba
authors.forename: Akhlesh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lakhtakia