I have always held that photovoltaics are a real winner if the conversion of the bulk of sunlight from UV to deep IR to electrical energy ever tops 60%. They have the efficiency up better now in the IR, but a lot of the short wavelength stuff is lost. (characteristic of silicon).
I had read about 7 years ago (Science News?) they were doing this same thing with HV high frequency Telsa coil spark played over silicon in halogens. The laser is probably more controlable though.
Richard Hull
Created on Friday, June 01, 2001 5:10 PM EDT by Richard Hull