chiral phonons (IMAGE)
Caption
The collective vibrations of atoms in a crystal are known as phonons. In chiral phonons, these vibrations include a rotational motion, giving them a left- or right-handed character. Researchers have now shown that this handedness can be switched using an electric field.
Credit
© Paul Scherrer Institute PSI/Mahir Dzambegovic and Monika Bletry
Usage Restrictions
© PSI provides image and/or video material free of charge for media coverage of the content of the above text. Use of this material for other purposes is not permitted. This also includes the transfer of the image and video material into databases as well as sale by third parties.
License
Original content