Beyond Stefan-Boltzmann Law: Thermal Hyper-Conductivity

Evgenii E. Narimanov, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Igor I. Smolyaninov, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University

Abstract

We demonstrate that the broadband divergence of the photonic density of states in hyperbolic metamaterials leads to giant increase in radiative heat transfer, beyond the limit set by the Stefan-Boltzmann law. The resulting radiative thermal "hyper-conductivity" may approach the heat conductivity via electrons and phonons in regular solids. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America

Discipline(s)

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology