Our research is focused on theoretical and experimental investigations of nanoscale and microscale effects in thermo-fluid transport phenomena. The big picture goal is to use these fundamental studies for improvements in energy conversion and electronics cooling applications. Some of the current projects include investigations of near-field enhancement of thermal radiative transfer, temperature variation of van der Waals and Casimir forces, far-field emission control using periodic structures, thermal metrology using bi-material cantilevers, and resonance frequency characteristics of bi-material cantilevers. In addition, we also have smaller projects on interfacial fluid flow phenomena and pattern formation. Please refer to Research link for further information on each of these topics.
The research in this lab is inter-disciplinary and the students who graduate form this lab are expected to be experts in four of the following areas: (1) Applied mathematics and numerical techniques, (2) Thermal-fluid sciences (with emphasis on nano/microscale effects), (3) Electromagnetism/Wave propagation, (4) Solid mechanics (with emphasis on MEMS/NEMS structures) (4) Solid-state physics/quantum mechanics, (5) Optics (theoretical and experimental), (6) Electrical and electronic measurements.
Open positions
Doctoral graduate student (Ph.D): Looking for a student with good mathematical ability/interest to work on a project with a greater emphasis on theoretical/computational focus. The project will also involve some experimental measurements. Curiosity and willingness to learn a wide variety of topics is a must.
Post-doctoral researcher: Looking for someone with a good background experimental techniques and a willingness to further their theoretical/computational research.
Recent Journal Publications
1. S. Sheng, A. Narayanaswamy, and G. Chen, “Surface phonon polaritons mediated energy transfer between nanoscale gaps,” Nano Lett. 9, 2909-2913 (2009).
2. A. Narayanaswamy, S. Shen, L. Hu, X. Chen, and G. Chen, “Breakdown of the Planck blackbody radiation law at nanoscale gaps,” Appl. Phys. A 96, 357-362 (2009).
3. A. Narayanaswamy, S. Shen, and G. Chen, "Near-field radiative heat transfer between a sphere and a substrate," Phys. Rev. B 78, 115303 (2008).
4. L. Hu, A. Narayanaswamy, X. Chen, and G. Chen, "Near-field thermal radiation between two closely spaced glass plates exceeding Planck's blackbody radiation law," Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 133106 (2008).
5. A. Narayanaswamy and G. Chen, "Near-field radiative energy transfer between two spheres," Phys. Rev. B 77, 075125 (2008).
6. S. Shen, A. Narayanaswamy, S. Goh, and G. Chen, "Thermal Conductance of AFM bi-material cantilevers", Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 063509 (2008).
Recent Conference Proceedings and Presentations
1. A. Narayanaswamy, S. Shen, and G. Chen, "Near-field thermal radiation: comparison of numerical results and experiments," ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE2008- 69230, Boston, October 31 - November 6, 2008.
2. A. Narayanaswamy, S. Shen, and G. Chen, "Heat transfer spectroscopy and "heat transfer - distance" curves," ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE2008- 69231, Boston, October 31 - November 6, 2008.
3. S. Shen, A. Narayanaswamy, S. Goh, and G. Chen, "Thermal conductance of bi-material AFM cantilevers," ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE2008- 68078, Boston, October 31 - November 6, 2008.
4. A. Narayanaswamy, S. Shen, and G. Chen, "Measurement of near-field radiative heat transfer and implications for Casimir force measurements," 2008 APS March Meeting, New Orleans, March 10 - 14, 2008.
5. G. Chen, L. Hu, D.-Z. Chen, A. Narayanaswamy and X. Chen, "Thermal Radiative Transport in Nanostructures and its Application in Energy Technology," MRS Spring 2007 meeting, San Francisco, April 10 - 13, 2007.
Contact Information :
Arvind Narayanaswamy
500 W120 Street
Rm. 228A, S.W. Mudd Building
New York, NY 10027
Ph: 212 854 0303
Fax: 212 854 3304
Email: arvind dot narayanaswamy at columbia dot edu
News :
Carlo Canetta passes his qualifier exams. Congratulations Carlo.
The Swamy group gets their first NSF grant! Big relief to everyone concerned.