Photon, Phonon, and Electron Transitions in Coupled Nanoscale Systems

The coupling between nanosized subsystems is of great importance from the viewpoint of basic research and, not less important, in developing conceptually new devices. Even in low energy devices which are usually operated close to thermal equilibrium a coupling between two subsystems is caused by small differences in temperature leading to relatively large temperature gradients due to the small dimensions. For local temperature management, it might be desirable to avoid these gradients for draining waste heat or on the contrary to have as large as possible gradients during cooling of a local detector. These gradients cause a heat flow mediated by electrons and phonons which can be strongly influenced by interfaces reducing the coupling of the subsystems. Beside the heat conduction heat transport between subsystems can be mediated by photons or coupling through forces like the Casimir force. In the last years, there is a growing community from different disciplines interested in the different aspects of the heat transport phenomena by the different heat carriers in nanosystems down to molecular and even atomic scale. This seminar aims to bring together well-established experts, young academics, and graduate students (physicists, engineers, and chemists) working on experiments and theory of the photonic, phononic, and electronic transport properties in nanoscale systems. The program of the seminar will be organized in a series of lectures given by internationally recognized scientists in theoretical or experimental research. These lectures will give a pedagogical introduction into specific topics of the field and an overview of present development, new insights and novel result in theory as well as techniques and methods of measurements.

The conference language will be English. The Wilhelm and Else Heraeus-Foundation bears the cost of full-board accommodation for all participants.