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Updated: Jan 9, 2026
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Spectral and Angle-Resolved Magneto-Optical Characterization of Photonic Nanostructures
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Chiral Phonons Arising from Chirality-Selective Magnon-Phonon Coupling.
Markus Weißenhofer1,2, Philipp Rieger1,3, M S Mrudul1
1Uppsala University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, P.O. Box 516, S-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden.
Physical Review Letters
|December 5, 2025
Summary
Chiral phonons emerge from magnon-phonon coupling in magnetic materials. This discovery challenges existing theories and offers new possibilities for spintronic and phononic devices.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Mechanics
Background:
- Chiral phonons are crucial for spintronics but difficult to generate and control.
- Existing methods for phonon manipulation are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the emergence of chiral phonons through selective magnon-phonon coupling.
- To investigate the properties and potential applications of these chiral phonons.
Main Methods:
- First-principles calculations to analyze hybridized magnon-phonon quasiparticle states in bcc Fe.
- Quantitative analysis across the entire Brillouin zone.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated emergence of truly chiral phonons in inversion-symmetric magnetic systems.
- Revealed finite zero-point phonon angular momentum and anomalous thermal Hall responses.
- Linked these phenomena to finite spin Berry curvatures, challenging conventional magnetoelastic interpretations.
Conclusions:
- Chiral phonons can be generated via magnon-phonon coupling in magnetic materials.
- These findings provide a new understanding of phonon behavior and open avenues for novel spintronic and phononic devices.
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