New Study Challenges 200-Year-Old Fourier's Law: Unexpected Heat Transfer Observed in Translucent Materials

A 200-year-old scientific principle is called into question by a team from the University of Massachusetts: heat transmission in solids could not proceed as expected.

[{"selector":"#anim-19b4e146-691e-49db-8b01-8c1562fccee7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dcd810c3-ffbe-4b32-ab3a-3f9bc6a58d63","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-67112786-53ee-4a68-b1a7-47cec7ed3bee","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4161a9e-f6b9-4585-9fb6-59b1e1554476","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f70ca71b-1de4-4ae5-aeec-c2b3798cb0b0","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-180deg) translate3d(109.14128%, 0px, 0) rotate(180deg)","rotate(-180deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(180deg)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ebc30d89-277e-473a-aff4-f3d7ed082fc9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.24204%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0f380db8-2181-497e-b5a6-e99718a9331d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-177db938-5023-442c-ba16-dbeae5daf74b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source: Google

By using transparent materials such as glasses and polymers, researchers reveal a novel way in which heat may spread.

[{"selector":"#anim-558ad596-e863-4d09-b607-9fb28ab28d74","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb4369d2-9f18-48f0-b4b3-6d84133f49a6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4bba0b03-11a7-4407-80e0-dc5b929fb6ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9f213e8-ac2c-4ec7-9ea8-cb87e1750bab","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-180deg) translate3d(108.37990%, 0px, 0) rotate(180deg)","rotate(-180deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(180deg)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-796d9156-01cc-4aeb-8ec2-a7a690f95c5c","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b4b3e27-08be-4588-916a-17bfaba3f90b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source: Google

Laser-driven heat pulses show a rapid increase in temperature, indicating that radiation and diffusion work together to play a major role.

[{"selector":"#anim-a61024bb-853f-402f-bafe-52742ec8aed3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-774b7fea-b343-4c1b-872e-f90659ff8ea7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 169.88915%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4eeee587-addb-4dd7-9731-92b2d9df3987","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4bc5b1b8-d6fa-4178-a07c-95dec364ad30","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(108.98876%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-16d6353e-291d-4c50-8145-9a2de279eefb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a5e41b38-7f1a-4ebe-89dc-73ad2b3f2bb2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -293.57487%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Google

Scientists were able to isolate and monitor heat transport without air disturbance thanks to an inventive vacuum chamber arrangement.

[{"selector":"#anim-99f46b6f-d733-4972-9458-9f8d499ee51f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11b8a0f5-ad1e-4ee9-ae8f-94dd4beeb890","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-031782df-5a97-4f7e-9c4c-9c68313ba00e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f61a4454-09ef-4949-bce4-a01766afd208","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6ad125f-b817-4083-af94-9d1b024b6f10","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(106.92521%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cb152e6b-2098-470c-a8ab-1b36f45cd2c6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.24204%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-521af44a-ccb2-4b45-a177-86e2203434e1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-332577e8-a1e6-4995-99ee-d945366a0cdd","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source: Google

Macroscale investigations fit classical Fourier's Law on heat transport and provide other thermal channels.

[{"selector":"#anim-f77ee4da-75cb-4e4f-816f-3e4ee774fdf0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-099051d9-a040-4f5c-a884-46f72822543b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-532e9698-603b-4a4a-b5cc-2b55922e80c7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-70b8b0f0-66e7-41e2-9d6e-62f07e8278fc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(108.10056%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d907343-f7a5-4f13-8bfd-dabc4ef15b72","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f77f9a5-50c0-449a-8572-026463820586","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source: Google

The study team made a surprising discovery: structural flaws in transparent materials may function as catalysts for heat emission.

[{"selector":"#anim-55a8c89d-bf20-4418-80f5-72531e3a742b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4fc999b7-b1c0-4854-973c-799f53f8c9ea","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 175.59285%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d820414f-0a09-4552-b853-0f366eb9feb5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0052a4ef-a989-4df2-a9df-244b108f0e1d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(110.85044%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a9177c6-af14-458a-8f92-de9eb3a2c0f3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dff2d59f-4c5f-4ddf-87f9-64573a08d7ba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -293.57487%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Google

The paper describes how temperature-sensitive coatings and infrared cameras allow for heat dispersion that goes above and beyond expectations.

[{"selector":"#anim-5c65c9db-1cb2-4dd5-b7a1-16c0ec4f4f01","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9606cb8-41c1-46d2-84fc-5def3ff887c5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8284b0ef-8523-46c4-ba4f-1c297ba3c3f5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8e98ec1f-b042-41f4-8e70-189a6c55f5fa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0906aaa2-0bc5-4ed1-8a18-1626ee4e572b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(105.55556%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52bddc83-ff5a-42a8-9835-92b81f8bdd4c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.24204%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f7f15808-0202-463e-bd76-ca6dcaaecab4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4828950c-ea12-419b-9d8e-d29827dfe7d7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source: Google

The results offer a fresh outlook on thermal energy handling and have the potential to completely change heat management techniques in engineering.

[{"selector":"#anim-21092d0e-3a77-48ee-93d1-fde0fd7814aa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31766c61-1f45-42a1-90ce-a4fffa6d7260","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-40166c94-fcd6-45dc-b8ec-f7e90a1793fa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d678fb2b-c176-485f-8a29-6a223f89e43f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(109.14286%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b2bfe31-d847-4917-a17e-5a5b82004178","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d44aa75-9101-4077-92bf-d9403a1247eb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source: Google

Two centuries after its origin, Fourier's Law is improved upon rather than disproved, deepening our knowledge of thermal physics for real-world uses.

[{"selector":"#anim-e6f79fc4-d33b-4df6-95aa-14b62ceb772f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc6bfb5d-3698-41a7-901c-22717aab6aeb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 191.18074%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05f7f306-b9c8-45f0-9d71-e0366ee59930","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7d220af-f9a8-4f1e-a6c3-c4387b7254b5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(108.61111%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4677ab3e-867f-4002-abd9-5451606356f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4313b554-e7e8-4226-8e84-cb833c8e380a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -257.71842%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Google