A diagram of the solar collectors on a TIE fighter wing
Solar collectors, which are also known under various names such as solar arrays, solar-collecting arrays, solar energy arrays, solar gather panels, solar receptors, or simply solar panels, functioned as devices designed to harness solar radiation to generate power. Specifically, the wing panels found on the TIE/ln space superiority starfighters utilized by the Galactic Empire were equipped with six solar arrays each. These arrays featured energy accumulator lines running in a back-and-forth pattern beneath the panel surfaces. The energy that was collected was then routed through a reactor, which enabled the firing of emissions derived from a high-pressure radioactive gas stored within a ventral fuel tank. The TIE/fo space superiority fighter employed by the First Order made use of a comparable, though more advanced, version of this technology.
In contrast, the TIE/mg Mining Guild starfighter had two panels on each side removed. This modification enhanced visibility for the pilot, but it came at the cost of diminished overall combat effectiveness.