Nanoscale radiative heat transfer between a small particle and a plane surface

We study the radiative heat transfer between a small dielectric particle, c onsidered as a point-like dipole, and a surface. In the framework of electr odynamics and using the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, we can evaluate th e energy exchange in the near field, which is dominated by the contribution of tunneling waves. The transfer is enhanced by several orders of magnitud e if the surface or the particle can support resonant surface waves. An app lication to local heating is discussed. (C) 2001 American Institute of Phys ics.