Accelerating the Heat Diffusion: Fast Thermal Relaxation of a Microcantilever

Description

In most systems, thermal diffusion is intrinsically slow with respect to mechanical relaxation. We devise here a generic approach to accelerate the relaxation of the temperature field of a one-dimensional object, in order to beat the mechanical time scales. This approach is applied to a micrometer-sized silicon cantilever, locally heated by a laser beam. A tailored driving protocol for the laser power is derived to quickly reach the thermal stationary state. The model is implemented experimentally yielding a significant acceleration of the thermal relaxation, up to a factor 30. An excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions is reported. This strategy allows a thermal steady state to be reached significantly faster than the natural mechanical relaxation.

Abstract

Agence Nationale de la Recherche ANR-18- CE30-0013

Abstract

MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ and "ERDF A way of making Europe" PID2021-122588NB-I00

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