How Does Acoustic Mismatch Affect Thermal Conductivity?
In nanoscale systems, phonons are the primary carriers of heat. When there is a significant acoustic mismatch between two materials, phonons are partially reflected back instead of transmitting across the interface. This reflection increases the thermal boundary resistance, also known as Kapitza resistance, reducing the overall thermal conductivity of the system. Efficient heat dissipation is crucial for the performance of devices like microprocessors and nanoelectronics.
