Scientists Guide Heat Like Light at Room Temperature

Topic: Physics

Researchers at UCLA discovered a way to control heat in materials like light. They used boron arsenide, a special crystal, and found that heat can move through it in focused paths. This could lead to better electronics and quantum devices.

Managing heat is crucial for making faster and more reliable electronics. Until now, scientists had only seen a way of moving heat called phonon focusing at very low temperatures. However, this made it hard to study and use in real-world applications.

A team led by Yongjie Hu from the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering has found that phonons, tiny vibrations that carry heat, can move through materials like light at room temperature. They used a special crystal called boron arsenide, which is known for its high thermal conductivity.

The researchers created a technique to map temperature at the nanoscale and observed distinct ray-shaped patterns in boron arsenide. This was different from normal diffusive heat conduction, where heat spreads out evenly. The team found that changing the orientation of the crystal changed the pattern of heat flow in predictable ways.

This discovery could lead to new ways of controlling heat in advanced electronics and quantum technologies. It may also help address major limits in AI hardware and other electronic devices by allowing engineers to direct heat along planned routes with nanoscale accuracy.

Why It Matters

This breakthrough could improve the performance, reliability, and scalability of electronic devices like smartphones, laptops, and computers. It may also enable new advances in quantum information systems and sensing technologies.

Key Facts

• Scientists at UCLA discovered a way to guide heat through materials like light at room temperature using boron arsenide.
• Phonons, tiny vibrations that carry heat, can move through materials in focused paths.
• The discovery could lead to better electronics and quantum devices.
• Boron arsenide is a special crystal with high thermal conductivity.
• The researchers used a technique to map temperature at the nanoscale.

Key Terms

Phonons

Tiny vibrations that carry heat and display quantum behavior

Boron arsenide

A special crystal with high thermal conductivity

Implications

This breakthrough could improve the performance, reliability, and scalability of electronic devices like smartphones, laptops, and computers. It may also enable new advances in quantum information systems and sensing technologies.