Light‑Harvest Ladder — a 24/7 Hybrid Solar‑Wind‑Optic Platform (Theoretical)

We propose the Light-Harvest Ladder (LHL): a vertically stacked platform that delivers 24/7 hybrid energy and deliverable light by coupling (1) orbital & direct solar photons, (2) high-altitude wind, and (3) ground-level pressure/temperature differentials in one mass-lean architecture. A kite-sail at 3–6 km co-hosts a research-grade, cryo-assisted Yb:YAG seed-laser and a photonic “origami” sail that concentrates sunlight by day and accepts reflected-orbital light by night. A multifunctional CNT–HC-PCF tether (CNT load braid + hollow-core photonic crystal fibers + CNT-supercap ribbon) provides airborne-wind power, thermal rejection, bi-directional optical routing (seed/power light; comms), and burst buffering for filament-guidance—reducing airborne mass and complexity. A hollow Venturi mast (0.5–3 km) with PV cladding entrains SiO₂ as local feedstock and drives a small drag-turbine on nocturnal downdrafts; at the base, glass light-pipes (sun-sintered/printed fused-silica) deliver photons to greenhouses or sensors. Optional “atmospheric-processor” modes add sky-side water harvest (cold-finger), ESP-lite air purification, and an optical/RF data spine. We outline physics (winds/filamentation/HC-PCF & pipe losses), a circular chain (dust→glass→optics), and a pilot roadmap (TRL-4→6). Targets include P_wind+solar ≥ 300 W m⁻², boundary night lux ≤ 1.5 (≤ 1.0 with fiber-routed orbital light), and losses of HC-PCF 0.2–0.5 dB km⁻¹ / pipes 0.1–0.5 dB m⁻¹ (≤ 0.02 dB m⁻¹ lab‑grade stretch; straight runs ≤ 20–40 m). Indicative LCOE in deserts: 45–55 $/MWh. This is a theoretical concept to motivate joint optical-atmospheric-renewables experiments.