Transformation thermodynamics and heat cloaking: a review

• Published in: Journal of optics (2010) Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 44002 - 44014
• Main Authors: Raza, Muhammad, Liu, Yichao, Lee, El Hang, Ma, Yungui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 01.04.2016
• Subjects: Design engineering; Distortion; Heat flux; Invisible cloaking; Metamaterials; Stealth technology; Thermodynamics; transformation thermodynamics; Transformations; Visibility
• ISSN: 2040-8978; 2040-8986
• DOI: 10.1088/2040-8978/18/4/044002

This article is a review of the advances and progresses in the field of heat cloaking which is being realized using metamaterials. Heat cloaking has been a particularly important subject of study due to its potential multidimensional applications. The process which manipulates the heat flux in such a way that it can neither enter into the cloaked region nor be distorted outside is called thermal cloaking. Transformation optics has made the hitherto inconceivable advancements in the field of thermodynamics possible with the remarkable assistance of metamaterials. In this article we present a review of the work done in the field of heat cloaking, its progress and outlook. We discuss the theoretical and experimental studies, models, design managements, implementations and behaviors of thermal invisibility cloaking and related devices. This review is intended to help further develop practical and applicable concepts, examine fabrication techniques for a variety of different invisibility cloaking devices and systems, and to pave a way for the new avenues leading to new future technologies.