Equivalent circuit model of radiative heat transfer

TL;DR

This paper introduces an equivalent circuit model for radiative heat transfer in multilayered environments, simplifying analysis and demonstrating significant heat transfer enhancement through metamaterials.

Contribution

It presents a novel electrical network approach to radiative heat transfer, aligning with existing theories but offering easier analysis and practical application.

Findings

Enhanced heat transfer through metamaterials compared to empty gaps

The circuit model accurately reproduces known radiative transfer phenomena

Demonstrates practical application in near-infrared heat transfer

Abstract

Here, we develop 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. A practical example of the near-infrared heat transfer through the micron gap filled with an indefinite metamaterial is considered using the suggested method. The giant enhancement of the transferred heat compared to the case of the empty gap is shown.