Nano-scale thermal transfer -- an invitation to fluctuation electrodynamics

TL;DR

This paper reviews the electromagnetic theory of thermal radiation based on fluctuation electrodynamics, discussing fundamental concepts, approximations, and illustrating with examples of near-field heat transfer.

Contribution

It provides an overview of fluctuation electrodynamics applied to nano-scale thermal transfer, highlighting recent developments and physical insights.

Findings

Near-field heat transfer can be effectively described by fluctuation electrodynamics.

Different approximations impact the accuracy of thermal radiation predictions.

The theory offers a framework for understanding nanoscale thermal phenomena.

Abstract

An electromagnetic theory of thermal radiation is outlined, based on the fluctuation electrodynamics of Rytov and co-workers. We discuss the basic concepts and the status of different approximations. The physical content is illustrated with a few examples on near-field heat transfer.