Ultra-small coherent thermal conductance using multi-layer photonic crystal

W. T. Lau; J.-T. Shen; G. Veronis; S. Fan

doi:10.1117/12.808432

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16 February 2009 Ultra-small coherent thermal conductance using multi-layer photonic crystal

W. T. Lau; J.-T. Shen; G. Veronis; S. Fan

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Proceedings Volume 7223, Photonic and Phononic Crystal Materials and Devices IX; 722317 (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.808432
Event: SPIE OPTO: Integrated Optoelectronic Devices, 2009, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

A multi-layer photonic crystal can be used to suppress coherent thermal conductance below the vacuum conductance value, over the entire high-temperature range. With interlacing layers of silicon and vacuum, heat can only be carried by photons. The thermal conductance of the crystal would then be determined by the photonic band structure. Partial photonic band gaps that present over most of the thermal spectrum, as well as the suppression of evanescent coupling of photons across the vacuum layers at high frequencies, would reduce the amount heat conducting photon channels below that of the vacuum. Thus such multi-layer structures can be very efficient thermal insulators. Besides, the thermal conductance of such structures can exhibit substantial tunability, by merely changing the size of the vacuum spacing.

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W. T. Lau, J.-T. Shen, G. Veronis, and S. Fan "Ultra-small coherent thermal conductance using multi-layer photonic crystal", Proc. SPIE 7223, Photonic and Phononic Crystal Materials and Devices IX, 722317 (16 February 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.808432

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