This ultracold quantum device turns electricity into something far stranger that could unlock sound-based lasers
Phys.org • • general
Key Points:
- Researchers at McGill University have developed a device that generates phonons—sound-like particles—at extremely low temperatures, potentially enabling phonon lasers for use in communications and medical diagnostics.
- The device operates by sending electrical current through a two-dimensional crystal layer, causing electrons to release energy as phonons when pushed beyond the speed of sound in the material.
- Cooling the device to near absolute zero allows observation of quantum effects, revealing that electrons can be very hot even when the surrounding crystal is extremely cold, challenging existing theories.
- Future research aims to use materials like graphene to increase the device's speed, which could enhance high-speed communication technologies and advanced sensing and medical systems.
- This breakthrough advances understanding of how electrical current and energy convert within advanced electronic materials, addressing the challenge of generating and controlling phonons.
