NOVELTY - The apparatus has a substrate (110) on which an array of the semiconductor nano-wires (102) is arranged. The array is provided with the array resonances of an optical absorption. The array resonances are raised from a corresponding leaky mode resonance of the nano-wires. The leaky mode resonances are provided with a corresponding spectral absorption peak. The dimensions of the nano-wires are selected in a way such that the selected spectral absorption peak is at 500 nm.    USE - Apparatus for absorbing solar radiation by semiconductor nano-wires used in solar energy, photo detection, photocatalysis and imaging (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The incident radiation having the spectral intensity peak can be more efficiently detected, by spectrally aligning the incident spectral intensity peak with the array resonance of the optical absorption of the nano-wire array. The straight nano wire antennas can also be mass produced and deposited in low cost procedures, by using roll-to-roll ink jet printing on the inexpensive plastic substrates. The high effective photon management strategy for the solar cells is provided, by using the intrinsic and strong optical antenna effects in semiconductor nano wires. Since the arrays of the semi conductor nanostructures with elongated shapes are used, the structure can exhibit reduced reflectivity and enhanced absorption. The high speed photo detectors are made to operate faster, as less time is required for the generated carriers to transit the device. Since the modified device use less photo-absorbing material, the process can provide faster, cheaper and more efficient photo-detectors and solar cells.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) electromagnetic radiation absorption method;    (2) solar energy collection method;    (3) photo detection method;    (4) photo catalysis method; and    (5) imaging method.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a schematic side view of the apparatus for absorbing the solar radiation.    Nano-wire (102)    Terminals (104,106)    Insulator (108)    Substrate (110)