Polarization-independent nonreciprocal thermal radiation by cylindrical grating structure

Abstract

Due to the significant application value of nonreciprocal thermal radiation in energy collection and conversion, it has always been an active research topic. The current research on polarization-independent nonreciprocal thermal radiation is characterized by low efficiency and a notable disparity in nonreciprocal efficiency between transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarizations. To address this issue, a polarization-independent nonreciprocal thermal radiation based on the two-dimensional grating structure is proposed, which is composed of silicon cylindrical grating ridges, magneto-optical materials InAs, and metal Ag. By the rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA), the nonreciprocal efficiency exceeds 90 % at a wavelength of 11.763 μm under both TE and TM polarizations. Meanwhile, the difference in nonreciprocal efficiency between the two polarizations is less than 1 %. Through an examination of the magnetic field and electromagnetic distribution at resonance peaks that are polarization-independent, as well as an analysis of coupling mode theory, we have uncovered the underlying physical mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon. The device is capable of sustaining optimal performance across a wide range of structural parameters, offering a significant role for manufacturing applications. The research proposed in this article provides a novel approach for designing efficient polarization-independent nonreciprocal thermal radiation.