Story perspectives

Breakthrough Phonon Laser Could Revolutionize Smartphone Technology

1/16/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers from University of Colorado Boulder, University of Arizona, and Sandia National Laboratories developed a surface acoustic wave phonon laser.
The device could enable thinner, faster smartphones by consolidating components onto a single chip.
It uses a layered silicon, lithium niobate, and indium gallium arsenide structure to boost wireless signal processing.
The device operates at about one gigahertz, and the findings were published in Nature on January 14, 2025.

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Story summary

Researchers from University of Colorado Boulder, University of Arizona, and Sandia National Laboratories developed a surface acoustic wave phonon laser.
The device could enable thinner, faster smartphones by consolidating components onto a single chip.
It uses a layered silicon, lithium niobate, and indium gallium arsenide structure to boost wireless signal processing.
The device operates at about one gigahertz, and the findings were published in Nature on January 14, 2025.