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.

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phonon British  

/ ˈfəʊnɒn /

noun

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

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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.

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Etymology

Origin of phonon

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

Example Sentences

With improved precision, phonon lasers could become powerful tools for measuring gravity and other forces with exceptional accuracy.

From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026

By the very nature of the phonon being a quasiparticle in a crystal it can be shown that the same mathematical pattern holds as for their biological counterparts in water.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2024

Ultimately, the initial phonon number was reduced by 75%, at a temperature of 74 K, -194 Celsius.

From Science Daily • Jan. 18, 2024

It's been suspected that during an electromagnon the atoms in the lattice wiggle and the spins wobble in an excitation that is essentially a combination of a phonon and a magnon.

From Science Daily • Nov. 28, 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