Sounds very much like E. E. 'Doc' Smith,
I know I've read the series you refer to, as I remember the "concentrated sunlight" was called Lux and an armor was made of Relux.
I haven't found the exact books yet but I am looking.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._E._Smith
Edit; I would swear the first book was called Pirates of the Air but no luck on pinning that down yet.
Nope not Doc Smith. Still looking.