Radiative Thermal Switch Exploiting Hyperbolic Surface Phonon Polaritons

We study the radiative heat flux between two nanoparticles in close vicinity to the natural hyperbolic material h-BN, with its optical axis oriented parallel to the interface. We show that the heat flux between the nanoparticles can be efficiently modulated when rotating the nanoparticles due to the coupling to the highly directional hyperbolic surface modes in h-BN. Finally, we discuss the thickness and distance dependence of this effect.

Automated summary

The study investigates the radiative heat flux between two nanoparticles near the natural hyperbolic material h-BN, showing that the heat flux between the nanoparticles can be efficiently modulated by rotating them due to the coupling with highly directional hyperbolic surface modes in h-BN. The thickness and distance dependence of this effect are also discussed.