Breakdown of Detailed Balance for Thermal Radiation by Synthetic Fields

Area of Science:

• Thermodynamics
• Quantum Optics
• Condensed Matter Physics

Background:

• Nonreciprocity in heat transfer is a growing research area, with magnetic fields previously investigated.
• Synthetic electromagnetic fields offer a more flexible and accessible approach to studying heat transfer phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the breakdown of detailed balance in heat transfer using synthetic electric and magnetic fields.
• To investigate synthetic field-induced nonreciprocity in heat transfer between graphene flakes and in Casimir coupling.
• To propose an experimental system for verifying the breakdown of detailed balance.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical analysis of heat transfer functions in the presence of synthetic electric and magnetic fields.
• Spectral measurements of heat transfer to analyze the breakdown of detailed balance.
• Investigation of Casimir coupling and its modification by synthetic fields.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the breakdown of detailed balance for the heat transfer function T(ω) due to synthetic fields.
• Showcased synthetic field-induced nonreciprocity in heat transfer transmission between graphene flakes.
• Observed synthetic field effects on Casimir coupling and mean occupation numbers.

Conclusions:

• Synthetic electric and magnetic fields provide a viable method for inducing and studying nonreciprocity in heat transfer.
• The proposed system with membranes offers a promising platform for experimental verification of detailed balance breakdown.
• This work advances the understanding of fundamental heat transfer mechanisms and their control.