Converting the patterns of local heat flux via thermal illusion device

• Main Authors: N. Q. Zhu, X. Y. Shen, J. P. Huang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2015-05-01
• Series: AIP Advances
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4913994

Since the thermal conduction equation has form invariance under coordinate transformation, one can design thermal metamaterials with novel functions by tailoring materials’ thermal conductivities. In this work, we establish a different transformation theory, and propose a layered device with anisotropic thermal conductivities. The device is able to convert heat flux from parallel patterns into non-parallel patterns and vice versa. In the mean time, the heat flux pattern outside the device keeps undisturbed as if this device is absent. We perform finite-element simulations to confirm the converting behavior. This work paves a different way to manipulate the flow of heat at will.