Supersonic Waves Enable Heat Management in Electronics Devices

Researchers have observed waves of atomic rearrangements, known as phasons, propagating supersonically through a vibrating crystal lattice — a discovery that may dramatically improve heat transport in insulators and enable new strategies for heat management in future electronics devices. It provides a shortcut through the material — a way to send the energy of pure atomic motion at a speed that's higher than what is achievable with phonons (atomic vibrations). The shortcut may open possibilities in heat management of nanoscale materials.