  In the classical approach to deal with near-field radiative heat exchanges
between two closely spaced bodies no coupling between the different heat
carriers inside the materials and thermal photons is usually considered. Here
we make an overview of the current state of studies on this coupling between
solids of different sizes by paying a specific attention to the impact of the
conduction regime inside the solids on conduction-radiation coupling. We also
describe how the shape of solids affects this coupling. We show that this
coupling can be at the origin of a drastic change of temperature profiles
inside each body and of heat flux exchanged between them. These results could
have important implications in the fields of nanoscale thermal management,
near-field solid-state cooling and nanoscale energy conversion.
