Equivalent circuit theory of radiative heat transfer on micro- and nanoscale

TL;DR

This paper introduces an equivalent circuit theory for radiative heat transfer at micro- and nanoscale, simplifying analysis while maintaining consistency with existing fluctuating current density models.

Contribution

It presents a novel equivalent electrical network approach for radiative heat transfer in multilayered environments, enhancing simplicity and applicability.

Findings

The theory is fully equivalent to existing fluctuating current density models.

It simplifies the analysis of radiative heat transfer at micro- and nanoscale.

Applicable to arbitrary multilayered structures with diverse electromagnetic properties.

Abstract

Here, we outline a theory of radiative heat transfer based on an equivalent electrical network representation for the hot material slabs in an arbitrary multilayered environment with arbitrary distribution of temperatures and electromagnetic properties among the layers. Our approach is fully equivalent to the known theories operating with the fluctuating current density, while being significantly simpler in analysis and applications.