6/9/16

Control of thermal radiation by near-field effects

Dr. Nir Dahan

SCD – Semiconductor Devices Ltd., Israel

Abstract

In this talk, I discuss how excitation of surface waves can be utilized to modify the optical properties of materials. In particular, it is the mechanism to produce polarized and coherent thermal emission. Although the correlation length is defined by the intrinsic character of the bulk, it is enhanced by coherent coupling between resonant cavities, as in a phase antenna array. Furthermore, the interaction of surface waves with rotational symmetry structure shown to be a manifestation of geometric phase in thermal radiation. In solar applications, enhanced absorption is proposed by means of light scattering from particles close to an interface. Therein, the absorption mechanism is coupling of scattered light to surface modes. A detailed analysis is reviewed where reciprocity relation and energy conservation are satisfied on the interface. In addition, a semi-coherent model was developed to handle scattering and absorption in thin photovoltaic cells. Finally, the field of radiative energy transport in the nano-scale will be briefly presented.

Thursday, June 9, 2016, at 15:00

Room 011, Kitot Building