We have analyzed thermal emission from one-dimensional metallodielectric periodic structures using a Green’s function technique together with the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. We show that such simple structures exhibit excellent selective emission characteristics with a controllable transition frequency in the infrared and even visible range. Such simple structures should be easy to fabricate and have applications in thermophotovoltaics and potentially in incandescent bulbs.

• Received 6 April 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.70.125101