J.-P. Mulet

Surface electromagnetic waves thermally excited: Radiative heat transfer, coherence properties and Casimir forces revisited in the near field

We review in this article the influence of surface waves on the thermally excited electromagnetic field. We study in particular the field emitted at subwalength distances of material surfaces. After reviewing the main properties of surface waves, we introduce the fluctuation-dissipation theorem that allows to model the fluctuating electromagnetic fields. We then analyse the contribution of these waves in a variety of phenomena. They give a leading contribution to the density of electromagnetic states, they produce both temporal coherence and spatial coherence in the near field of planar thermal sources. They can be used to modify radiative properties of surfaces and to design partially spatially coherent sources. Finally, we discuss the role of surface waves in the radiative heat transfer and the theory of dispersion forces at the subwavelength scale.

Definition and measurement of the local density of electromagnetic states close to an interface

We define unambiguously the local density of electromagnetics states (LDOS) close to an interface. We show that we can measure this LDOS by making a thermal emission spectrum with a near-field scanning optical microscope

Nanoscale radiative heating of a sample with a probe

The purpose of this paper is to show that it is possible to transfer large amount of heat to a sample at a nanometer scale by approaching a probe such as those used in near-field microscopies. We evaluate the different heat exchange processes such as convective and radiative heat transfer. An application to local heating is discussed.

Influence of non-radiative transfer on the ultrafast electron dynamics of metallic nanoparticles

Ultrafast dynamics of electron relaxation in a nanometallic particle has been the subject of many studies in the past ten years. New and partially unexplained behaviours have been observed experimentally by different groups. In this paper we show that by introducing a decay channel not taken into account so far, it is possible to interpret the size and fluence dependence of the decay time observed experimentally.

Demonstration of a coherent thermal source

We report experimental measurements of the emission of thermal light by a lamellar grating ruled on SiC. This sample is a partially spatially coherent source that emits light in a narrow angle as an antenna. In addition, this surface emits different spectra in different directions displaying the Wolf effect.