Near-field energy transfer between graphene and magneto-optic media

TL;DR

This paper investigates how near-field radiative energy transfer between graphene and a magneto-optic medium can be controlled and tuned using electric currents and magnetic fields, revealing potential for dynamic thermal management.

Contribution

It introduces a method to control and tune near-field energy transfer between graphene and magneto-optic media via electric current and magnetic field, highlighting nonreciprocal effects.

Findings

Energy flux magnitude and direction are controllable by electric current and magnetic field.

A tunable thermoelectric current can be generated with a temperature difference.

Nonreciprocal surface modes influence energy transfer dynamics.

Abstract

We consider the near-field radiative energy transfer between two separated parallel plates: graphene supported by a substrate and a magneto-optic medium. We first study the scenario in which the two plates have the same temperature. An electric current through the graphene gives rise to nonequilibrium fluctuations and induces energy transfer. Both the magnitude and direction of the energy flux can be controlled by the electric current and an in-plane magnetic field in the magneto-optic medium. This is due to the interplay between the nonreciprocal photon occupation number in the graphene and nonreciprocal surface modes in the magneto-optic plate. Furthermore, we report that a tunable thermoelectric current can be generated in the graphene in the presence of a temperature difference between the two plates.