Abstract: A mantle or emitter used to illuminate a photovoltaic cell. In one embodit, a tubular mantle or emitter is made of a composite structure including a rare-earth material, such as ytterbium oxide, covering a porous ceramic, such as alumina or zirconia, formed on a metal or ceramic support mesh. A hydrocarbon fuel-air mixture is forced into the mantle causing combustion and the rare-earth material to heat up to incandescent temperature, creating a highly radiant selective emitting surface. In another embodiment, a tubular burner-emitter having a mantle surrounded by an inner and outer glass tube permits the preheating of air used for combustion within a toroidal gap formed by the inner and outer glass tubes. In another embodiment, a tubular burner-emitter is used in combination with hinged photovoltaic cells or solar panels so that the photovoltaic cells can be positioned around the burner-emitter so that electromagnetic radiation from the burner-emitter causes the photovoltaic cells to create electrical energy.