{
  "abstract": "We address the question of the optimal broadband absorption of waves in an open dissipative system and its key implications for solar cells. We develop a general framework for absorption induced by multiple overlapping resonances, based on quasinormal modes and radiative and nonradiative decay rates. We demonstrate that the upper bounds on broadband absorption in a slab of thickness d take the simple form A = 1 − exp  ( − F α d ) , where α is the absorption coefficient and F is the path enhancement factor. We apply these results to sunlight absorption in photovoltaics and answer the long-standing debate on the best light-trapping strategy in solar cells. For angle-independent absorption enhanced by scattering, we derive the isotropic upper bound F = 4 n 2 (where n is the refractive index), extending the well-known Lambertian (or Yablonovitch) limit beyond the ray-optics and weak-absorption regimes. For angle-restricted illumination, we show that F can be further increased up to 8 π n 2 / 3 using multiresonant absorption induced by periodical patterning. These results have a general scope in the field of wave physics and open new opportunities to maximize absorption, detection, and attenuation of electromagnetic or mechanical waves in ultrathin devices.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Stéphane Collin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Maxime Giteau"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9c0vwq8w0pct2.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1103/1tzg-hgqx",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "9c0vwq8w0pct2",
  "issns": [
    "2768-5608"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05800696v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.phys"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2204|Plasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W4401201792",
  "pdf_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05800696/document",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-05-26",
  "publisher": "American Physical Society",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9c0vwq8w0pct2.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:57Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05800696",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.science/hal-05800696v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:2505|Machine Learning in Materials Science",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Upper Bounds on Broadband Absorption and Application to Solar Cells",
  "title_text": "Upper Bounds on Broadband Absorption and Application to Solar Cells",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:57Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9c0vwq8w0pct2",
  "venue": "PRX Energy",
  "versions": []
}