Berry Phase and Topological Effects of Phonons

TL;DR

This paper introduces the emerging field of topological phononics, exploring how Berry phase and topological concepts can be used to manipulate phonons for advanced thermal and quantum applications.

Contribution

It presents a new paradigm in phononics by applying topological physics and Berry phase concepts to control phonons in novel ways.

Findings

Introduction of topological phononics as a new research area

Use of Berry phase to manipulate phonon properties

Potential applications in thermal management and quantum devices

Abstract

Phonons as collective excitations of lattice vibrations are the main heat carriers in solids. Tremendous effort has been devoted to investigate phonons and related properties, giving rise to an intriguing field of phononics, which is of great importance to many practical applications, including heat dissipation, thermal barrier coating, thermoelectrics and thermal control devices. Meanwhile, the research of topology-related physics, awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics, has led to discoveries of various exotic quantum states of matter, including the quantum (anomalous/spin) Hall [Q(A/S)H] effects, topological insulators/semimetals and topological superconductors. An emerging research field is to bring topological concepts for a new paradigm phononics---"topological phononics". In this Perspective, we will briefly introduce this emerging field and discuss the use of novel quantum degrees of freedom like the Berry phase and topology for manipulating phonons in unprecedentedly new ways.