Active control of near-field radiative heat transfer through nonreciprocal graphene surface plasmons

Abstract

In this Letter, we investigate near-field radiative heat transfer (NFRHT) dominated by nonreciprocal surface plasmons polaritons (NSPPs). By applying an adjustable drift current on a graphene sheet, the circular dispersion of graphene plasmons is dragged toward the direction of drift charges, resulting in the asymmetric photonic transmission model. We predict the existence of the dependence of the NFRHT on the drift-current velocity and the vacuum gap. It is found that the coupling of NSPPs at smaller and larger gap sizes exhibits different nonreciprocities. The findings may open promising pathways for highly efficient thermal management, energy harvesting, and subwavelength thermal imaging.