A fundamental study on topology optimization for nanoscale heat conduction controlling devices at cryogenic temperature

Abstract

With the recent miniaturization of semiconductor devices, the importance of thermal transfer control at the nanoscale has been attracting attention. In this study, we perform a fundamental study on topology optimization for the design of nano-thermal-controlled devices that show the desired function at low temperatures. The solution of the dynamic-elastic equation for phonons, which are responsible for heat conduction at the nanoscale, is used to formulate the optimization problem, and a sensitivity analysis based on the concept of topological derivatives is performed. The obtained design sensitivity is then used to construct an optimization algorithm for creating the optimal structure of the nanodevices.