Thermal Transport Schematic (IMAGE)

University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering

Thermal Transport Schematic

Caption

Schematic representation of thermal transport for small heater dimensions. Vibrational waves, or photons, that travel parallel to the surface do not help cool the hot region when its dimensions are small because they can traverse its small diameter without interacting with it. The metal-coated surface prevents phonons traveling perpendicular the surface from traversing the heated region without interaction.

Credit

Richard Wilson, University of Illinois

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