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McGill Device Generates Tunable Phonons Near Absolute Zero, Enabling Lasers

4/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

McGill University researchers led by researcher Michael Hilke built a device that generates phonons from 10 milli-Kelvin up to 3.9 Kelvin.
The device drives electrons through an atom-thin crystal at supersonic speeds, producing tunable magnetophonons while the crystal stays near absolute zero.
Physical Review Letters reports electrons remain hot and phonon emission is tunable by current and magnetic field, suggesting applications such as underwater or medical communication and future phonon lasers.

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Story summary

McGill University researchers led by researcher Michael Hilke built a device that generates phonons from 10 milli-Kelvin up to 3.9 Kelvin.
The device drives electrons through an atom-thin crystal at supersonic speeds, producing tunable magnetophonons while the crystal stays near absolute zero.
Physical Review Letters reports electrons remain hot and phonon emission is tunable by current and magnetic field, suggesting applications such as underwater or medical communication and future phonon lasers.