Patent ID: 8210164

Claim:
A quasi-parabolic reflector for a quasi-parabolic solar concentrator comprising: a concave reflective surface, the concave reflective surface comprising a cross-section substantially symmetric about an axis of symmetry, wherein the cross-section comprises: a first reflective portion on a first side of the axis of symmetry, the first reflective portion having a first focal area, the first focal area located on a concave side of the concave reflective surface and on the first side of the axis of symmetry and at a first distance away from the axis of symmetry; and a second reflective portion on a second side of the axis of symmetry, the second side of the axis of symmetry opposite the first side of the axis of symmetry, the second reflective portion having a second focal area, the second focal area located on the concave side of the concave reflective surface and on the second side of the axis of symmetry and at a second distance away from the axis of symmetry; and wherein the first focal area and the second focal area are substantially at a focal distance away from the concave side of the concave reflective surface, and wherein incident radiation which is incident upon the concave side of the concave reflective surface and propagating in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of symmetry is reflected from the concave reflective surface as reflected radiation such that reflected radiation reflected from the first reflective portion and reflected radiation reflected from the second reflective portion propagate to a radiation absorbing target, wherein each of the first reflective portion and the second reflective portion is concave in a generally same direction as a concavity of the concave reflective surface, and wherein the first reflective portion and the second reflective portion are such that beyond an initial cross-over distance, greater than the focal distance, from the concave side of the concave reflective surface, a first portion of the reflected radiation reflected from the first reflective portion overlaps a second portion of the reflected radiation reflected from the second reflective portion.