On the dependence of the thermal conductivity of width-modulated nanowires on the number of modulations

Abstract

Our previous Monte Carlo simulations on the thermal conductivity of width-modulated nanowires indicated two distinct dependences of the decrease of the thermal conductivity κ relative to that of the non-modulated nanowire: (i) in the case of multiple constrictions κ scales with the nanowire transmissivity, (ii) in the case of a single constriction κ is determined by the ballistic constriction resistance. Here, we report on the transition between the two regimes. We discuss the thermal conductivity of width modulated nanowires as a function of the number of modulations. Phenomenology has been derived to interpret the MC simulations.