Heat equations beyond Fourier: from heat waves to thermal metamaterials

Abstract

In the past decades, numerous heat conduction models beyond Fourier have been developed to account for the large gradients, fast phenomena, wave propagation, or heterogeneous material structure, such as being typical for biological systems, superlattices, or thermal metamaterials. It became a challenge to orient among the models, mainly due to their various thermodynamic backgrounds and possible compatibility issues. Additionally, in light of the recent findings on the field of non-Fourier heat conduction, it is not even straightforward how to interpret and utilize a non-Fourier heat equation, primarily when one aims to thermally design the material structure to construct the new generation of thermal metamaterials. Adding that numerous modeling strategies can be found in the literature accompanying different interpretations even for the same heat equation makes it even more difficult to orient ourselves and find a comprehensive picture of this field of research. Therefore, this review aims to ease the orientation among advanced heat equations beyond Fourier by discussing properties concerning their possible practical applications in light of experiments. We start from the simplest model with basic principles and notions, then proceed toward the more complex models related to coupled phenomena such as ballistic heat conduction. We do not enter the often complicated technical details of each thermodynamic framework but do not aim to compare each approach. However, we still briefly present their background to highlight their origin and the limitations acting on the models. Additionally, the field of non-Fourier heat conduction has become quite segmented, and that paper also aims to provide a common ground, a comprehensive mutual understanding of the basics of each model, together with what phenomenon they can be applied to.