Thermal management and non-reciprocal control of phonon flow via optomechanics

TL;DR

This paper proposes a nanostructured optomechanical system that achieves tunable non-reciprocal phonon transport, enabling directional heat flow control and potential applications in phonon-based information processing.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining optomechanical coupling and controlled scattering to engineer non-reciprocal phonon flow in nanostructures.

Findings

Design of an acoustic isolator and thermal diode

Demonstration of breaking time-reversal symmetry with laser drive

Potential for heat management and phonon-based information processing

Abstract

Engineering phonon transport in physical systems is a subject of interest in the study of materials and plays a crucial role in controlling energy and heat transfer. Of particular interest are non-reciprocal phononic systems, which in direct analogy to electric diodes, provide a directional flow of energy. Here, we propose an engineered nanostructured material, in which tunable non-reciprocal phonon transport is achieved through optomechanical coupling. Our scheme relies on breaking time-reversal symmetry by a spatially varying laser drive, which manipulates low-energy acoustic phonons. Furthermore, we take advantage of recent developments in the manipulation of high-energy phonons through controlled scattering mechanisms, such as using alloys and introducing disorder. These combined approaches allow us to design an acoustic isolator and a thermal diode. Our proposed device will have potential impact in phonon-based information processing, and heat management in low temperatures.