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Laser light switches on heat flow in ultra-thin structures

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Why This Matters

This breakthrough demonstrates that laser light can control heat flow between ultra-thin crystalline layers, opening new possibilities for thermal management and energy efficiency in electronic devices. Such precise manipulation of heat transfer could lead to innovative cooling solutions and enhanced performance in nanoscale systems.

Key Takeaways

When an object needs to be cooled, a common approach is to put it in contact with something colder — think of adding an ice cube to a drink on a hot day. But, if two objects are at the same initial temperature, mere contact between them doesn’t cause either to cool down. However, writing in Nature, Lin et al.1 report that shining light with the right frequency on a two-layer stack of very thin crystalline materials can, if certain conditions are met, cause heat to flow from one to the other.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-01803-2

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Competing Interests The authors declare no competing interests.

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