In physics, a phonon is a collective excitation in a periodic, elastic arrangement of atoms or molecules in condensed matter, specifically in solids and some liquids. Often referred to as a quasiparticle, it is an excited state in the quantum mechanical quantization of the modes of vibrations for elastic structures of interacting particles. Phonons can be thought of as quantized sound waves, similar to photons as quantized light waves.The study of phonons is an important part of condensed matter physics. They play a major role in many of the physical properties of condensed matter systems, such as thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity, as well as play a fundamental role in models of neutron scattering and related effects.
The concept of phonons was introduced in 1932 by Soviet physicist Igor Tamm. The name phonon comes from the Greek word φωνή (phonē), which translates to sound or voice, because long-wavelength phonons give rise to sound. The name is analogous to the word photon.
Hi everyone,
I've been doing some good old thinking about the photon, and how it is a particle/wave etc, and kind of came up with an analogy that kind of works for me, and was wondering if it was applicable. I kind of related it to the idea of a phonon, as a phonon can be considered a...
This is as I currently understand it:
Phonon thermal conductivity is dependent on the phonon mean free path. To define phonon thermal conductivity a mechanism whereby phonons can be brought into thermal equalibruim is required.
This is what I have a problem with:
Phonon interactions...
Let's suppose we have a Phonon gas in 1-D then:
- density of states g(k)=A/ \frac{ d\omega (k)}{dk} (i don't remember the value of constant A sorry.. :tongue2: :tongue2: )
- The Schroedinguer equation (NO interaction) would be:
H_TOTAL =\Sum_{i}\frac{P^{2} _{i}}{2M}+ \sum_{i}B\omega...
I ran across the term phonon, looked it up, and it's described as a quantized vibration in a lattice structure. Is this analgous to photons being quantized vibrations in an electromagnetic field? I'm having hard time thinking of these as particles.
Hi everybody.
I know a little about phonons in a lattice such as semiconductors, which are energy quanta of the vibrational states of the crystal, but I can't figure out how a phonon can exist in a dielectric or even in a non monocristalline material. Can somenone help me or advise me a book on...