Abstract
We develop theoretical and computational formalisms to describe thermal radiation from temporally modulated systems. We show that such a modulation results in a photon-based active cooling mechanism. This mechanism has a high thermodynamic performance that can approach the Carnot limit. Our work points to exciting new avenues in active, time-modulated control of thermal emission for cooling and energy harvesting applications.
- Received 6 August 2019
- Accepted 22 January 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.077402
© 2020 American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Focus
Emitting Photons Is One Way to Be Cool
Published 21 February 2020
A device described in a new proposal would cool an object by causing it to radiate extra heat.
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