Tri Axial Current Measurement

Random currents flow across the semiconductor junctions of silicon solar cells, and these currents produce electrical noise when measured.

There are a number of excellent research resources that describe this process in great detail, but at a very basic level, thermal noise causes electrons to vibrate, with the result that many electrons jump the junction gap within the devices, generating currents.

The objective of this experiment was to measure this effect in 3-axis simultaneously, with the end result being an evaluation of differential correlations within the three axis.

To construct the experiment, I designed and printed a bracket that would maintain orthogonal alignment of three solar cell arrays. The arrays were then attached to the lid of a coffee can (steel dark chamber), which would allow for blocking of incoming light.

This was a very interesting experiment, with mixed results. More to come :-)