Eur. Phys. J. B (2018) 91: 87
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2018-90038-4

Regular Article

Simple analytical model of a thermal diode

¹ Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Hauz Khas 110016, New Delhi, India
² Soft Condensed Matter Group, Raman Research Institute, C.V. Raman Avenue, Sadashivanagar, Bangalore 560080, India
³ Theoretical Sciences Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India

^a e-mail: maratherahul@physics.iitd.ac.in

Received: 23 January 2018
Received in final form: 9 March 2018
Published online: 21 May 2018

Abstract

Recently there is a lot of attention given to manipulation of heat by constructing thermal devices such as thermal diodes, transistors and logic gates. Many of the models proposed have an asymmetry which leads to the desired effect. Presence of non-linear interactions among the particles is also essential. But, such models lack analytical understanding. Here we propose a simple, analytically solvable model of a thermal diode. Our model consists of classical spins in contact with multiple heat baths and constant external magnetic fields. Interestingly the magnetic field is the only parameter required to get the effect of heat rectification.