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Quantum Limits on Material Response Factors for Optimized Radiative Heat Transfer

Through quantum mechanical considerations, we optimize the material response factor $|χ|^2/\text{Im}\left[χ\right]$, which plays a pivotal role in the fundamental limits of near-field radiative heat transfer (RHT). A comparison of the limits obtained to experimental data for select materials shows that current materials fall several orders of magnitude short of the optimized values, suggesting the possibility of significant improvement in the rate of radiative heat transfer between two bodies. This work informs material design efforts that seek to optimize RHT, as well as provides insights into the quantum origins of RHT and the theory of fundamental limits.