We demonstrate that the in-plane thin film heat transport can be accurately mapped via confocal anti-Stokes fluorescence imaging using fluorescent dye probes and nanoheaters. We employ 3D finite elements analysis to evaluate the thermal conductivity of a control sample and to assess the validity of a point heat source approximation. We have found that this approximation is adequate with use of a tightly focused laser beam, providing a robust means for determining the thermal conductivity of a sample under investigation. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3606429
