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We introduced a theoretical framework to describe the near-field heat transfer in complex plasmonic systems made with $N>2$ objects in mutual interaction. A Landauer type formula is derived to evaluate the radiative heat flux exchanged between two bodies through a N-body system. An upper limit for the heat flux is deduced from this formulation. Finally, different thermal effects and potential applications which are directly related to multiple interactions are presented.

near-field ; nanoscale heat transfer; plasmonics