Thermally driven classical Heisenberg chain with a spatially varying magnetic field: thermal rectification and negative differential thermal resistance

Abstract

Thermal rectification and negative differential thermal resistance are two important features that have direct technological relevance. Here, we study the classical one-dimensional Heisenberg model, driven thermally by heat baths attached at the two ends of the system and in the presence of an external magnetic field that varies monotonically in space. Heat conduction in this system is studied using a local energy conserving dynamics. It is found that by suitably tuning the spatially varying magnetic field, the structurally homogeneous symmetric system exhibits both thermal rectification and negative differential thermal resistance. Thermal rectification, in some parameter ranges, shows interesting dependencies on the average temperature T and the system size N—rectification improves as T and N are increased. Using the microscopic dynamics of the spins we present a physical picture to understand thermal rectification as exhibited by this system and provide supporting numerical evidence. Emergence of the negative response in this system can be controlled by tuning the external magnetic field alone, which can have possible applications in the fabrication of novel thermal devices.