Elementary excitation in the quantum mechanical treatment of vibrations in a crystal
lattice.
An energy bundle that behaves as a particle of energy
,
with
the vibration frequency and
the
Planck constant.
Notes:
- A phonon can be considered as an acoustic mode of thermal
vibration of a crystal lattice (or liquid helium II).
- Every harmonic vibration can be decomposed in phonons,
which are the elementary vibrations. The total number of phonons in a
system that has internal vibrations (e.g., a crystal) is related to the
temperature of the system.
- The concept of phonons provides a simplification in the theories of thermal
and electrical conduction in solids.
- For example, interactions between phonons and electrons are
thought to be responsible for such phenomena as 'superconductivity'.
Source:
PAC, 2007, 79, 293
(Glossary of terms used in photochemistry, 3rd edition (IUPAC Recommendations 2006))
on page 382
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
