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Washington, Apr 20 (ANI): Newly observed magnetic effect induced by light can produce solar power making semiconductor-based solar cells redundant.According to scientists at the University of Michigan, a newly observed “dramatic and surprising” magnetic effect of light could help produce solar power without the use of solar cells.According to Stephen Rand, a professor in the departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Physics and Applied Physics, researchers have found a way to make an “optical battery,” Light has electric and magnetic components. Until now, scientists thought the effects of the magnetic field were too weak to be acknowledged. Rand and his colleagues found is that at the right intensity, when light is travelling through a non-conductor, the light field can generate magnetic effects that are 100 million times stronger than previously expected. Under these circumstances, the magnetic effects develop strength equivalent to a strong electric effect.”This could lead to a new kind of solar cell without semiconductors and without absorption to produce charge separation,” said Rand. “In solar cells, the light goes into a material, gets absorbed and creates heat. Here, we expect to have a very low heat load. Instead of the light being absorbed, energy is stored in the magnetic moment. Intense magnetization can be induced by intense light and then it is ultimately capable of providing a capacitive power source,” he added.This new technique could make solar power much cheaper. The research was published in the Journal of Applied Physics. (ANI)