Near field versus far field in radiative heat transfer between two-dimensional metals

Using the standard fluctuational electrodynamics framework, we analytically calculate the radiative heat current between two thin metallic layers, separated by a vacuum gap. We analyze different contributions to the heat current (traveling or evanescent waves, transverse electric or magnetic polarization) and reveal the crucial qualitative role played by the dc conductivity of the metals as compared to the speed of light. For poorly conducting metals, the heat current may be dominated by evanescent waves even when the separation between the layers greatly exceeds the thermal photon wavelength, and the coupling is of an electrostatic nature. For well-conducting metals, the evanescent contribution dominates at separations smaller than the thermal wavelength and is mainly due to magnetostatic coupling, in agreement with earlier works on bulk metals.

Automated summary

In this study, the radiative heat current between two thin metallic layers separated by a vacuum gap was analytically calculated using the standard fluctuational electrodynamics framework. The role of dc conductivity of the metals compared to the speed of light in determining the heat current was identified, with different behaviors observed for poorly conducting metals versus well-conducting metals. Evanescent waves and their dominant role in heat current contributions were discussed in relation to the separation distance between the layers and the thermal wavelength.