1307.5421 (Debarshee Bagchi)

Thermal Rectification and Negative Differential Thermal Resistance in a
driven two segment classical Heisenberg chain    [PDF]

Debarshee Bagchi

We investigate thermal transport in a two segment classical Heisenberg spin chain with nearest neighbor interaction and in presence of external magnetic field. The system is thermally driven by heat baths attached at the two ends and transport properties are studied using an energy conserving dynamics. We demonstrate that by properly tuning the bulk and interface parameters thermal rectification can be achieved - the system behaves as a good conductor of heat along one direction but becomes a bad conductor when the thermal gradient is reversed. Moreover, tuning the system parameters suitably gives rise to an interesting and technologically important feature known as the negative differential thermal resistance. The underlying physical mechanism responsible for the emergence of these features is explored.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1307.5421