THERMAL RECTIFICATION DEVICE

摘要

The first and second media are coupled via evanescent waves generated by surface phonon polaritons thermally excited on surfaces of the first and second media. The first and second media made of the same material are disposed with a gap formed therebetween for cutting off thermal conduction and the heat transfer between them is performed mainly via the thermally excited evanescent waves. A third medium is provided on a surface of the first medium on a side toward the second medium. Heat flux which flows from the second medium to the first medium in a first state in which the second medium has a first temperature TH and the first medium has a second temperature TL lower than the TH differ in intensity from heat flux which flows from the first to the second medium in a second state in which the first medium has the TH and the second medium has the TL.