Scientists have created a new kind of quantum device that can turn electricity into something unusual: tiny packets of sound known as phonons.
This breakthrough could one day lead to “phonon lasers,” a new type of technology with possible uses in communication, sensing, and even medicine.
The research was led by a team at McGill University, with contributions from the National Research Council of Canada and Princeton University.
Their findings were published in Physical Review Letters.
To understand the importance of this discovery, it helps to think about how we currently send information.
Most modern communication relies on light or electrical signals. These work very well in air or through cables, but they have limits.
For example, light and electrical signals do not travel well in water or inside the human body. Sound, however, can move through these environments much more easily.
This is why technologies based on sound could open up new possibilities.
At the center of the new device is an extremely thin material, only a few atoms thick. Inside it, electrons are forced to move through a very narrow channel.
When a strong electrical current is applied, the electrons are pushed to very high speeds. As they move, they release energy not as light, but as vibrations in the material.
These vibrations behave like particles and are called phonons, which are often described as “sound-like” particles.
To make this process work, the device must be cooled to incredibly low temperatures, close to absolute zero. At these temperatures, electrons behave in unusual ways described by Quantum Physics.
Instead of acting like simple particles, they begin to show wave-like behavior, making it possible to observe and control effects that are normally hidden.
The researchers found that when electrons move fast enough—approaching or even exceeding the speed of sound in the material—they can generate phonons in a controlled and predictable way.
This is important because phonons are usually very difficult to produce and manage precisely.
One surprising result of the study is that even when the material itself is extremely cold, the electrons inside it can still behave as if they are “hot.” This challenges some existing ideas in physics and suggests that current theories may need to be updated.
Looking ahead, the team plans to test other materials, including Graphene, which is known for its exceptional strength and electrical properties. Using such materials could allow the device to operate at higher speeds and improve its performance.
If successful, this research could lead to entirely new technologies. Phonon-based systems might enable faster communication methods, better sensors, and new tools for medical diagnostics. By learning how to control sound at the quantum level, scientists are opening the door to a new way of using energy and information—one where sound plays a central role.
