What device did Leonardo da Vinci design to concentrate sunlight for intense heat?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a solar furnace to concentrate sunlight and produce intense heat.

His concept used mirrors arranged so that reflected sunlight would converge on a target. Concentrating many rays into a smaller area can raise the temperature substantially, which made the idea relevant to heating and industrial processes.

The solar furnace belongs to Leonardo’s studies of optics, reflection, and useful machines. It should not be confused with a solar panel, which converts sunlight into electricity, or with a simple magnifying glass, which concentrates light through a lens rather than a large arrangement of mirrors.

Leonardo’s design was an early proposal for solar thermal technology. Modern solar furnaces use carefully engineered mirrors and tracking systems, but the underlying principle—concentrating radiant energy to create heat—remains the same.