Heat conduction in one-dimensional Yukawa chains

TL;DR

This paper investigates heat conduction in one-dimensional Yukawa chains, revealing abnormal size-dependent heat conduction and demonstrating how asymmetric external potentials can create effective thermal rectifiers with controllable heat flux.

Contribution

It introduces the effect of asymmetric external potentials on heat conduction in Yukawa chains, showing potential for thermal rectification and controllable heat flux.

Findings

Heat conduction is proportional to system size, indicating abnormal behavior.

Asymmetric external potentials induce directional dependence in thermal conductivity.

Thermal flux can be controlled by adjusting potential parameters.

Abstract

Heat conduction in one-dimensional Yukawa chains is investigated. It is shown numerically that it has the abnormal heat conduction which is proportional to the system size. Effects of asymmetric external potential, the modified Frenkel-Kontorova one, on the heat conduction of system are also studied. It is found that the asymmetric property of external potential can induce asymmetric thermal conductivity that can be used to be a effective thermal rectifier. In certain of system parameters the heat flux are significantly different for two opposite direction. One can parametrically control the heat flux through this system by changing the potential strength and width.