Normal heat diffusion in many-body system via thermal photons

A normal-diffusion theory for heat transfer in many-body systems via carriers of thermal photons is developed. The thermal conductivity tensor is rigorously derived from fluctuational electrodynamics as a coefficient of diffusion term for the first time. In addition, a convection-like heat transfer behavior is revealed in systems of asymmetric distribution of particles, indicating violation of Fourier’s law for such system. Considering the central role of thermal conductivity in heat transfer, this work paves a way for understanding, analysis and manipulation of heat transfer in nanoparticle system via thermal photons with many-body interactions.