ABSTRACT
There are only two fundamental mechanisms of energy transfer-diffusion and electromagnetic radiation (convection refers to the addition of bulk flow to these modes). This chapter deals with transport of energy by the mechanism of electromagnetic radiation. No medium is necessary in transporting energy using electromagnetic radiation, in contrast with diffusion and convection which, by definition, requires a medium to be present, i.e., cannot occur in vacuum. Although radiative energy transfer often occurs in conjunction with diffusion and convection, we will look at simple radiative energy transfer situations (see Figure 8.1) and exclude situations such as radiation combined with convection.
