Surface Bloch waves mediated heat transfer between two photonic crystals

TL;DR

This paper theoretically demonstrates that surface Bloch states in photonic crystals can significantly enhance near-field heat transfer compared to homogeneous materials, with potential applications in advanced thermal management.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical model showing how surface Bloch waves in photonic crystals can mediate and amplify heat transfer in near-field conditions, a novel mechanism not previously explored.

Findings

Surface Bloch states enable larger heat transfer than homogeneous materials.

Heat transfer exceeds classical limits at small gaps.

Potential for improved near-field thermal technologies.

Abstract

We theoretically investigate the non-radiative heat transfer between two photonic crystals separated by a small gap in non-equilibrium thermal situation. We predict that the surface Bloch states coupling supported by these media can make heat exchanges larger than those measured at the same separation distance between two massive homogeneous materials made with the elementary components of photonic crystals. These results could find broad applications in near-field technologies.