THERMAL RADIATION AT THE NANOSCALE:FORCES, HEAT TRANSFER, COHERENCE (TRN 07)

Thermal radiation is often described in the far-field regime. Recent developments in different fields require a detailed description of thermal radiation properties in a distance range from a few microns (i.e. near-field regime for the wavelength relevant to thermal properties) to the nanometric scale. It has been demonstrated in particular that the thermal field exhibit coherence properties, even in the far-field regime provided that the emitting surface has been micro-structured. The fundamental Casimir effect, now measured in precision experiments, must be compared with predictions considering a non-zero temperature, friction forces due to thermal fluctuations are being studied. A set of three lectures will provide an introduction to fluctuational electrodynamics, optical forces and thermodynamics at nanoscale. Recent theoretical and experimental advances will be covered by 15 seminars given by leading experts in the field.