phonon

American  

[foh-non] / ˈfoʊ nɒn /

noun

Physics.

1. a quantum of sound or vibratory elastic energy, being the analogue of a photon of electromagnetic energy.

---

phonon British  

/ ˈfəʊnɒn /

noun

1. physics a quantum of vibrational energy in the acoustic vibrations of a crystal lattice

---

phonon Scientific  

/ fō′nŏn′ /

1. The quantum of acoustic or vibrational energy. Phonons, like all quanta in quantum mechanics, have wavelike and particlelike properties. Phonons propagate through the vibrating material at the speed of sound in that material. Phonons are especially useful in mathematical models for calculating thermal and vibrational properties of solids.

---

Etymology

Origin of phonon

First recorded in 1930–35; phon- + -on ¹

Example Sentences

To address this issue, the team used a technique known as squeezing to reduce the natural thermal noise present in the phonon laser.

From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026

The breakthrough centers on a device called a surface acoustic wave phonon laser.

From Science Daily • Jan. 17, 2026

When atoms in a lattice jiggle together, the collective excitation is known as a phonon.

From Science Daily • Nov. 28, 2023

"There is no off-the-shelf light source for our phonon frequencies at about 10 terahertz," explained Jiaming Luo, an applied physics graduate student and the lead author of the study.

From Science Daily • Nov. 9, 2023

Certain wavelengths of light, when polarized in a direction aligned with the molecules, prompt strong lattice vibrations—a phenomenon called a phonon resonance.

From Scientific American • Nov. 18, 2022