Phonon multiplexing through 1D chains

Abstract

Recently, phonon propagation through atomic structures has become a relevant study issue. The most important applications arise in the thermal field, since phonons can carry thermal and acoustic energy. It is expected that technological advances will make possible the engineering of thermal paths according to convenience. A simple phonon multiplexer was analyzed as a spring-mass model. It consists of mono-atomic chains of atoms with a coupling structure between them. Forces between atoms follow Hooke's law and are restricted to be first nearest neighbor interaction. It was possible to establish simple rules on constitutive parameters such as atom masses and bonding forces that enable one to select a wavelength of transmission. The method used enables the study of structures of much greater complexity than the one presented here.