Ultrafast modulation of near-field heat transfer with tunable metamaterials

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method for ultrafast, noncontact modulation of near-field heat transfer using tunable metamaterials with controllable magnetoelectric coupling, enabling rapid thermal management at the nanoscale.

Contribution

It presents a novel active heat transfer modulation mechanism based on externally tunable metamaterials with controllable surface mode coupling.

Findings

Large modulation effect observed

Coupling of surface modes explains modulation

Potential for picosecond-scale thermal modulation

Abstract

We propose a mechanism of active near-field heat transfer modulation relying on externally tunable metamaterials. A large modulation effect is observed and can be explained by the coupling of surface modes, which is dramatically varied in the presence of controllable magnetoelectric coupling in metamaterials. We finally discuss how a practical picosecond-scale thermal modulator can be made. This modulator allows manipulating nanoscale heat flux in an ultrafast and noncontact (by optical means) manner.