Sources of Finite Speed Temperature Propagation

Abstract The relation between heat flux and temperature gradient has been considered as a constitutive structure or as a balance law in different approaches. Both views may allow a description of heat conduction characterized by finite speed propagation of temperature disturbances. Such a result, which overcomes Fourier’s drawback of infinite speed propagation, can be obtained also by considering insufficient the representation of a conductor, even when it is considered to be rigid, rather than the sole relation between heat flux and temperature gradient. We comment this last view and describe the intersection with previous proposals. Eventually, we show how under Fourier’s law we can have traveling-wave-type temperature propagation when thermal microstructures are accounted for.