Reciprocity of thermal diffusion in time-modulated systems

Jiaxin Li, Ying Li (), Pei-Chao Cao, Minghong Qi, Xu Zheng, Yu-Gui Peng, Baowen Li, Xue-Feng Zhu (), Andrea Alù (), Hongsheng Chen and Cheng-Wei Qiu ()
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Jiaxin Li: National University of Singapore
Ying Li: National University of Singapore
Pei-Chao Cao: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Minghong Qi: Zhejiang University
Xu Zheng: University of Colorado
Yu-Gui Peng: City University of New York
Baowen Li: University of Colorado
Xue-Feng Zhu: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Andrea Alù: City University of New York
Hongsheng Chen: Zhejiang University
Cheng-Wei Qiu: National University of Singapore

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The reciprocity principle governs the symmetry in transmission of electromagnetic and acoustic waves, as well as the diffusion of heat between two points in space, with important consequences for thermal management and energy harvesting. There has been significant recent interest in materials with time-modulated properties, which have been shown to efficiently break reciprocity for light, sound, and even charge diffusion. However, time modulation may not be a plausible approach to break thermal reciprocity, in contrast to the usual perception. We establish a theoretical framework to accurately describe the behavior of diffusive processes under time modulation, and prove that thermal reciprocity in dynamic materials is generally preserved by the continuity equation, unless some external bias or special material is considered. We then experimentally demonstrate reciprocal heat transfer in a time-modulated device. Our findings correct previous misconceptions regarding reciprocity breaking for thermal diffusion, revealing the generality of symmetry constraints in heat transfer, and clarifying its differences from other transport processes in what concerns the principles of reciprocity and microscopic reversibility.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27903-3

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