Two-stage light concentrator

A power system, comprising:

• a light concentrator including:
• a luminescent concentrator including a semiconductor material that absorbs first photons, wherein the first photons have energy greater than or equal to a bandgap energy of the semiconductor material, wherein, in response to absorbing the first photons, the semiconductor material emits second photons with less energy than the first photons;
• and
• a gain medium optically coupled to the luminescent concentrator to receive and absorb the second photons, wherein the gain medium is coupled to emit third photons through a stimulated emission process in response to absorbing the second photons, and wherein the third photons have less energy than the second photons;
• and
• a power converter optically coupled to the gain medium to convert the third photons into another form of energy.

A method of light concentration, comprising:

• receiving first photons with a luminescent concentrator including a semiconductor material;
• absorbing the first photons with the semiconductor material, wherein the first photons have a first energy greater than or equal to a bandgap energy of the semiconductor material;
• emitting second photons with the semiconductor material, wherein the second photons have a second energy that is less than the first energy;
• absorbing the second photons with a gain medium, wherein electrons in the gain medium achieve population inversion after the gain medium absorbs a threshold quantity of the second photons;
• and
• emitting third photons from the gain medium via a stimulated emission process, wherein the third photons have less energy than the second photons.