Thermal junctions controlled with Aharonov-Bohm phases

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that magnetic fields via the Aharonov-Bohm effect can precisely control electronic heat flow in mesoscopic conductors, enabling advanced thermal management and energy conversion devices at the nanoscale.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to manipulate heat currents using magnetic flux in mesoscopic systems, exploiting quantum interference effects.

Findings

Magnetic flux can enhance thermoelectric effects.

Heat transport can be completely suppressed by magnetic control.

Non-local thermoelectric responses enable heat circulation.

Abstract

Unlike charge, heat flows are difficult to control. We show that, in mesoscopic conductors, electronic thermal currents can be manipulated with a magnetic field by using the Aharonov-Bohm effect: the magnetic control of the interference pattern enhances the thermoelectric effect, while heat transport can be totally suppressed. In a three-terminal configuration, the flux-induced broken reciprocity generates a non-local thermoelectric response and translates to the circulation of heat. This way, efficient thermoelectric generators, thermal switches and thermal circulators, as well as energy harvesters can be defined for minimally disturbing thermal management at the nanoscale.