Copropagating edge states produced by the interaction between electrons and chiral phonons in two-dimensional materials

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that interactions between electrons and chiral phonons in two-dimensional materials can produce copropagating edge states, revealing new hybrid electron-phonon phenomena with potential for novel electronic states.

Contribution

It introduces a non-perturbative approach to study electron-chiral phonon interactions, showing the emergence of copropagating edge states due to inelastic Umklapp processes.

Findings

Chiral phonons induce copropagating edge states.

Edge states coexist with a continuum and are robust.

Potential for hybrid electron-phonon states of matter.

Abstract

Unlike the chirality of electrons, the intrinsic chirality of phonons has only surfaced in recent years. Here we report on the effects of the interaction between electrons and chiral phonons in two-dimensional materials by using a non-perturbative solution. We show that chiral phonons introduce inelastic \textit{Umklapp} processes resulting in copropagating edge states which coexist with a continuum. Transport simulations further reveal the robustness of the edge states. Our results hint on the possibility of having a metal embedded with hybrid electron-phonon states of matter.