Abstract: A holographic replicator configured to mass-manufacture volumetric transmission holograms and including an imaging tank having a holographic master plate opposing a pneumatic absorber. When a segment of a recording film, moveable with respect to the master plate, is placed between the master plate and the pneumatic absorber, the pneumatic absorber is repositioned in space to locks the segment of the recording film between the master plate and the pneumatic absorber.

Abstract: A solar-energy concentrator and method for collecting sunlight with the concentrator. The concentrator includes a photovoltaic (PV) module having a PV cell and layers containing holographically-defined diffraction gratings that are spatially stacked or multiplexed. Spatial stacking or multiplexing of the gratings is configured to ensure that one grating layer carries another grating layer and that a portion of incident light not diffracted on one grating interacts with and is diffracted by another grating. Light that has interacted with either of the spatially multiplexed gratings is further redirected towards a sunlight collecting surface of the PV cell with the use of TIR reflection at a dielectric boundary of the concentrator.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module, configured for inclined (with respect to the horizontal surface) installation at a chosen latitude as part of rows of such photovoltaic modules, is complemented with a diffractive element that is configured to form a combination in which a gap between neighboring rows is bridged by the diffractive element to diffract sunlight incident onto so installed diffractive element towards the photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module and the diffractive elements can be connected to one another in a turnable fashion, for example through hinge, to enable electrical power generation that is substantially time-invariable throughout a portion of a year. Photovoltaic module optionally includes internal holographically-defined diffraction gratings and/or bifacial photovoltaic cells.