McGill University Researchers Develop Cryogenic Device Paving the Way for Advanced Sound-Based Phonon Lasers

New cryogenic technology from McGill University generates sound-like phonons, offering a future for high-speed underwater and medical communications.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 5:24 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

A Quantum Leap in Sound Particle Generation

The development of a novel device by physicists at McGill University marks a significant shift in how researchers generate and control phonons, which are sound-like particles at the quantum level. According to Associate Professor Michael Hilke, while modern communication relies heavily on electromagnetic waves and light, these mediums struggle in environments like the ocean or deep within human tissue. The newly engineered device operates by trapping electrons within a two-dimensional crystal layer only a few atoms thick, creating a controlled environment for observing how energy converts into sound. This achievement provides a foundational component for phonon lasers, which utilize acoustic vibrations rather than light to transmit data or probe materials.

The Physics of Supersonic Electron Channels

The mechanism behind this technology involves forcing an electrical current through a ultrahigh-mobility crystal system to push electrons beyond the speed of sound. When these particles travel at such high velocities, they release energy in the form of resonant magnetophonon emissions. Hilke noted that at temperatures near absolute zero, ranging from 10 milli-Kelvin to 3.9 Kelvin, matter begins to behave as waves rather than solid particles, allowing for more predictable electron behavior. The research suggests that existing physical theories must be reevaluated, as the study demonstrated that electrons can remain significantly hotter than their host crystal even when the environment is chilled to its thermal limit.

Cold Temperature Constraints and Quantum Stability

Maintaining extremely low temperatures is essential for the device to function, as it stabilizes the quantum effects necessary for phonon emission. In these cryogenic states, the researchers observed that sound is only created when electrons move collectively at or above the sonic barrier. This discovery builds upon previous scientific work but extends the observation well into the supersonic regime. By cooling the system to nearly absolute zero, the team was able to mitigate the chaotic thermal noise that usually disrupts quantum interactions, allowing the phonons to emerge in tunable, predictable patterns that could eventually be harnessed for precision engineering.