NOVELTY - Forming a multi-junction solar cell string comprises: providing a first multi-junction solar cell; providing a second multi-junction solar cell; mounting the first and the second multi-junction solar cells; attaching a first electrical interconnect to the contact pad; attaching a second electrical interconnect to the metal contact layer; mounting a cover glass over each of the first and the second multi-junction solar cells; and connecting the first electrical interconnect to the second electrical interconnect.    USE - The method is useful for forming a multi-junction solar cell string (claimed).    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Forming a multi-junction solar cell string comprises: providing a first multi-junction solar cell including a contact pad disposed adjacent the top surface of the multi-junction solar cell along a first peripheral edge; providing a second multi-junction solar cell disposed adjacent the first multi-junction solar cell, having a top surface and a bottom surface, and including a cut-out extending from a second peripheral edge along the top surface of the second solar cell located adjacent the first peripheral edge of the first multi-junction solar cell, and extending to a metal contact layer adjacent the bottom surface of the second multi-junction solar cell to allow an electrical contact to be made to the metal contact layer; mounting the first and the second multi-junction solar cells on a first side of a perforated carrier; attaching a first electrical interconnect to the contact pad of the first multi-junction solar cell, a portion of the electrical interconnect extending through the perforated carrier; attaching a second electrical interconnect to the metal contact layer of the second multi-junction solar cell, a portion of the electrical interconnect extending through the perforated carrier; mounting a cover glass over each of the first and the second multi-junction solar cells; and connecting the first electrical interconnect to the second electrical interconnect. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are:    (1) a multi-junction solar cell comprising an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap disposed adjacent the top surface of the multi-junction solar cell; a middle second solar subcell adjacent to the first solar subcell and having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap; a graded interlayer adjacent to the second solar subcell; the graded interlayer having a third band gap greater than the second band gap; and a bottom third solar subcell adjacent to the interlayer, the bottom subcell having a fourth band gap smaller than the second band gap such that the third subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the second subcell; a metal contact layer adjacent to the third solar subcell for making an electrical contact to it; a cut-out extending from a peripheral edge along the top surface of the solar cell to the metal contact layer to allow an electrical contact to be made to the bottom subcell from the top surface of the solar cell; and a perforated carrier supporting the multi-junction solar cell; and    (2) a multi-junction solar cell string comprising: a first multi-junction solar cell including a contact pad disposed adjacent the top surface of the multi-junction solar cell along a first peripheral edge; a second multi-junction solar cell disposed adjacent the first multi-junction solar cell, having a top surface and a bottom surface, and including a cut-out extending from a second peripheral edge along the top surface of the second solar cell located adjacent the first peripheral edge of the first multi-junction solar cell, and extending to a metal contact layer adjacent the bottom surface of the second multi-junction solar cell to allow an electrical contact to be made to the metal contact layer; a perforated carrier having a first side supporting the first and second multi-junction solar cells; first and second discrete bypass diodes mounted on the second side of the perforated carrier, each diode having first and second terminals; and an electrical interconnect extending at least between the contact pad of the first multi-junction solar cell and the corresponding terminal of the first bypass diode through the perforated carrier.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a cross-sectional view of the solar cells.