Symmetry-guided catalogue of chiral phonon materials
arXiv:2506.13721 · doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03260-0
Abstract
Chiral phonons---circularly polarized lattice vibrations with angular momentum---have become a key frontier in quantum materials. They offer ways to control heat and information through their coupling to electronic spin, orbital, and valley degrees of freedom. We present a symmetry-based framework that classifies phonon chirality across all crystallographic space groups. Our approach, built on symmetry representations of phonon angular momentum in reciprocal space, identifies three phononic material classes, namely, crystals with no chirality, chiral crystals with conventional s-wave helicity, and a group of achiral crystals hosting exotic higher-order helicities such as d, g, and i waves. Through high-throughput computation, we shortlist the most promising material candidates for experimental investigation. These results are compiled into the open-access Chiral Phonon Materials Database, which enables screening for materials with the desired chiral phonon properties. Our work establishes both the theoretical framework and the material platform required to exploit the properties of chiral phonons for next-generation thermal management and quantum technologies.
arXiv commentThe Chiral Phonon Materials Database can be accessed at https://materialsfingerprint.com
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