Silica aerogel, one of the most common forms of aerogel, consists of mostly air with the remainder being a wispy matrix of silica. Silica aerogel is the lowest density solid material ever fabricated and it has the lowest thermal conductivity and the lowest dielectric constant of any material known. The Microscale Heat Transfer Laboratory was established in 1995 and is dedicated to developing new techniques to assist in measuring, understanding, and utilizing microscale thermal phenomena. Modern technology has led to a shift in focus of thermal phenomena from the macroscale to the microscale. Research in the area of microscale heat transfer is aimed at a fundamental understanding of energy transport on ultra short time and length scales.
Experimental techniques involve ultra short pulse optical techniques.
The laboratory is equipped with a state of the art femtosecond pump probe experimental apparatus which enables changes in surface temperature of metallic surfaces to be monitored with subpicosecond temporal resolution. Miscellaneous optics, lasers, and a RS6000 provide the lab with the necessary facilities for measuring and modeling microscale thermal phenomena. The Virginia Artificial Heart Center is a major research facility for the design, development and testing of a magnetic bearing supported artificial heart for human implantation. Several prototypes have been successfully testing in pumping both water and blood. The current work is on a ventricular assist version of the pump but future work will be on a total heart replacement.