Controlling Thermal Radiation with Surface Waves

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to show that surface waves can be used to tailor radiative heat transfer. The first part of the chapter deals with the modification of radiative properties of surfaces. By taking advantage of surface waves, it is possible to design both the angular and the spectral characteristics of the emissivity/absorptivity. This paves the way to the design of smart incandescent IR sources with unprecedented properties. The second part of the chapter deals with the radiative heat transfer at the nanoscale. Here, the flux can be orders of magnitude larger than the flux given by Stefan-Boltzmann law. Surface waves can be used to enhance this flux and also to control its spectrum. Applications to heat flux modulators and thermophotovoltaics devices are discussed.