Magnetic-field control of near-field radiative heat transfer by liquid crystals-based magneto-optical metamaterials

Abstract

Active control of near-field radiative heat transfer (NFRHT) is enabled by magneto-optical (MO) materials with great application potential. Aside from MO materials, liquid crystals (LCs) can serve as an excellent host material to modulate optical properties in the mid infrared under magnetic field. Here, we theoretically investigate the magnetic-field control of NFRHT between two LC-based MO metamaterials consisting of InSb nanoparticles in the form of single strand chains dispersed in LC. We find that a relatively weak magnetic field can control the heat flux due to the Freedericksz transition of LC. With the increase of the magnetic field, MO response of InSb leads to a more pronounced thermal modulation. The intrinsic and the magnetization-induced hyperbolic modes, along with the dipole resonances of the particles, play a dominant role in NFRHT. Moreover, we discuss the influences of different aggregation forms of particles and volume filling fractions on the heat transfer. Our study can endow the modulation of NFRHT with an alternative practical and feasible solution.