Polaritonics
Recent theoretical works predicted a third possible condition for the super-Planckian heat transfer. On the surface of polar dielectrics, can exist evanescent electromagnetic waves produced by hybridization of photons and optical phonons. These wave are called surface phonon-polaritons (SPhPs). In suspended nanofilms, the SPhPs can carry the energy along the surface. Recent works even demonstrated how SPhPs can enhance the in-plane heat conduction of nanofilms. In this project, we aim to demonstrate that SPhPs can transfer thermal energy in different systems.
Publications
In-plane surface phonon-polariton thermal conduction in dielectric multilayer systems
We find that SPhPs generated in SiO2 nanolayers couple with guided resonant modes and propagate mainly in the nonabsorbent Si layer for microscale Si thicknesses.
Observation of heat transport mediated by the propagation distance of surface phonon-polaritons over hundreds of micrometers
We show that thin nanomembranes support heat transport by SPhPs, as evidenced by an increase in the thermal conductivity with temperature.
Enhanced thermal conduction by surface phonon-polaritons
We experimentally demonstrated the formation of SPhPs on the surface of SiN nanomembranes and subsequent enhancement of heat conduction.
