Negative differential thermal resistance and thermal transistor

TL;DR

This paper introduces the first model of a thermal transistor that uses negative differential thermal resistance to control heat flow, enabling switching and amplification of thermal currents.

Contribution

It presents a novel thermal transistor model that mimics electronic transistors, utilizing negative differential thermal resistance for heat flow control.

Findings

Demonstrates control of heat flow via a three-terminal device

Shows switching between insulating and conducting states

Enables amplification of small thermal currents

Abstract

We report on the first model of a thermal transistor to control heat flow. Like its electronic counterpart, our thermal transistor is a three-terminal device with the important feature that the current through the two terminals can be controlled by small changes in the temperature or in the current through the third terminal. This control feature allows us to switch the device between "off" (insulating) and "on" (conducting) states or to amplify a small current. The thermal transistor model is possible because of the negative differential thermal resistance.