Broadband directional control of thermal emission

Abstract: Controlling the directionality of emitted far-field thermal radiation is a fundamental challenge in contemporary photonics and materials research. While photonic strategies have enabled angular selectivity of thermal emission over narrow sets of bandwidths, thermal radiation is inherently a broadband phenomenon. We currently lack the ability to constrain emitted thermal radiation to arbitrary angular ranges over broad bandwidths. Here, we introduce and experimentally realize gradient epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) material structures that enable broad spectrum directional control of thermal emission by supporting leaky electromagnetic modes that couple to free space at fixed angles over a broad bandwidth. We demonstrate two emitter structures consisting of multiple semiconductor oxides in a photonic configuration that enable gradient ENZ behavior over long-wave infrared wavelengths. The structures exhibit high average emissivity (greater than 0.6 and 0.7) in the p polarization between 7.7 and 11.5 micron over an angular range of 70 deg - 85 deg, and between 10.0 to 14.3 micron over an angular range of 60 deg-75 deg, respectively. Outside these angular ranges, the emissivity dramatically drops to 0.4 at 50 deg and 40 deg. The structures broadband thermal beaming capability enables strong radiative heat transfer only at particular angles and is experimentally verified through direct measurements of thermal emission. By decoupling conventional limitations on angular and spectral response, our approach opens new possibilities for radiative heat transfer in applications such as thermal camouflaging, solar heating, radiative cooling and waste heat recovery.