Near-Field Radiative Heat Transfer: From the Radiation–Conduction Transition to Thermal Management and Energy Conversion

Titre : 
Near-Field Radiative Heat Transfer: From the Radiation–Conduction Transition to Thermal Management and Energy Conversion

Orateur:
Philippe Ben-Abdallah

Directeur de recherche CNRS Laboratoire Charles Fabry – Institut d’Optique, Paris

Résumé / Abstract : 

Thermal radiation is a fundamental mode of heat transfer and has played a key role in the development of quantum physics. Recent advances in near-field radiative heat transfer at nanometric distances have revealed new physical regimes and unexpected phenomena. In this seminar, I will first discuss how heat exchange between two solids evolves as they approach contact, focusing on the transition from photon-mediated radiation at large separations to phonon-dominated conduction at interatomic distances. I will then introduce basic components that enable control of radiative heat flux, analogous to electronic diodes and transistors, and show how they can be used for heat-based information processing. Finally, I will present a pyroelectric device that converts near-field thermal energy into electricity using graphene-based transistors.

Biographie / speaker's bio:

Philippe Ben-Abdallah is a Research Director at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). He leads the "Thermoplasmonics" team at the Charles Fabry Laboratory within the Institut d'Optique in Paris. His research focuses on nanophysics, thermoplasmonics, near-field heat transfer, many-body systems and energy applications. His work bridges the fields of nanotechnology, thermophysics and quantum science, aiming to develop efficient thermal management systems, investigate spin caloritronics and optimize energy harvesting technologies. With over 150 scientific publications he is recognized for his contributions to understanding heat transfer at the nanoscale and exploring the fundamental interactions between heat, spin and light in complex systems.