Reduction of the thermal conductivity in a 1D superlattice

<div>Many technological applications require solids having very low thermal conductivity. This work demonstrates that this can be achieved for specific layer parameters in a superlattice. The phonon dispersion for thick or uneven layered superlattices is modeled using the harmonic approximation in one dimension (1D). The dispersion curves for superlattices with uneven thickness in layers are characterized by the disappearance of forbidden regions. These gaps are usually found in superlattices having uniform thickness.