High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! In physics, the Shockley–Queisser limit or detailed balance limit refers to the maximum theoretical efficiency of a solar cell using a p-n junction to collect power from the cell. It was first calculated by William Shockley and Hans Queisser at Shockley Semiconductor in 1961. The limit is one of the most fundamental to solar energy production, and is considered to be one of the most important contributions in the field.