CAREER: Understanding Nanoscale Radiative Transport in Multi-Body Systems

纳米器件的热管理需要对降维中的辐射换热有扎实的了解。到目前为止，涉及辐射换热的实验一直受限于对二体系统的关注。这一职业计划将探索包含两个以上物体的系统(即多体系统)的潜力，以导致新的物理和运输行为，并因此在航空航天电子、能源转换技术和信息处理等具有国家重要性的领域实现新的应用。为了创造这些新技术，必须从实验上研究和了解多个物体之间的纳米级辐射换热，并探索其在改善换热和热控制方面的用途。因此，这项研究的主要成果将是一种新的技术，能够研究多个物体之间的纳米级辐射热传递。除了提供在纳米尺度推进热控制所需的基本知识外，该项目还将实施一个创新的教育平台，通过弥合学术工作和工业问题之间的差距来促进学术界的实际劳动力发展，并激发K-12学生探索工程职业的好奇心。这项职业计划将应用多体辐射传输的物理学来解决纳米设备中的热控制问题。具体地说，这项研究将在实验上揭示多体系统中驱动电磁波-物质相互作用的主导物理，以确定近场辐射热传输(NFRHT)的贡献因素。这项工作将通过以下两方面为下一代纳米器件的发展提供关键的新知识：(1)了解结构因素对多体NFRHT的影响；(2)阐明多体物理在NFRHT主动热管理中的作用。通过精确的热传递测量，将确定在多体之间消逝光子的空间限制中的重要结构和材料因素。这些发现将提供对微/纳米维度内的多个交互物体如何影响辐射传输机制的深入理解--这些知识将对推进工业和技术应用中最先进的大功率系统的热管理具有深远影响。这项研究与教育目标相结合：(1)为本科生和研究生创建学术-产业桥梁(AIB)倡议；(2)扩展AIB倡议，为K-12学生提供动手研究项目的互动平台。与纳瓦霍技术大学和德克萨斯大学里奥格兰德山谷的合作将确保与不同的受众接触。该项目由工程局化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统(CBE)部门的热传输过程计划和既定的激励竞争研究计划(EPSCoR)联合资助。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Thermal management of nanodevices requires a solid understanding of radiative heat transfer in reduced dimensions. To date, experiments involving radiative heat transfer have been limited by a focus on two-body systems. This CAREER program will explore the potential of systems containing more than two objects (i.e., multi-body systems) to lead to new physical and transport behaviors and, as a result, enable new applications in domains of national importance such as aerospace electronics, energy conversion technology, and information processing. To create these new technologies, it is essential to experimentally study and understand nanoscale radiative heat transfer between multiple objects and explore its use for improving heat exchange and thermal control. Thus, a primary outcome of this research will be a novel technique that enables the study of nanoscale radiative heat transfer among multiple objects. In addition to providing the fundamental knowledge necessary to advance thermal control at the nanoscale, this program will implement an innovative educational platform that promotes practical workforce development in academia by bridging the gap between academic work and industrial problems and stimulates curiosity among K-12 students in exploring engineering careers. This CAREER program will apply the physics of radiative transport in multi-bodies to solve thermal control problems in nanodevices. Specifically, this research will experimentally uncover the governing physics that drive electromagnetic waves-matter interactions in multi-body systems to identify the contributing factors in near-field radiative heat transfer (NFRHT). This work will provide new knowledge critical to the development of next-generation nanodevices by: (1) understanding the effect of structural factors on NFRHT in multi-bodies and (2) elucidating the role of multi-body physics in NFRHT for active thermal management. Significant structural and material factors in the spatial confinement of evanescent photons between multi-bodies will be identified through precision heat transfer measurements. Findings will provide in-depth understanding on how multiple interactive objects within micro/nano-dimensions impact radiative transport mechanisms—knowledge that will have far-reaching implications for advancing the thermal management of state-of-the-art high-power systems in industrial and technological applications. This research is integrated with education objectives to: (1) create an Academic-Industry Bridge (AIB) initiative for undergraduate and graduate students and (2) extend the AIB initiative to include an interactive platform for hands-on research projects for K- 12 students. Collaborations with Navajo Technical University and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will ensure engagement with diverse audiences.This project is jointly funded by the Thermal Transport Processes Program in the Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBE) Division of the Engineering Directorate, and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.