#phonos

A new method to study polarons in insulators and semiconductors

A team of researchers at the University of Oxford have recently introduced a new way to model polarons, a quasiparticle typically used by physicists to understand interactions between electrons and atoms in solid materials. Their method, presented in a paper published in Physical Review Letters, combines theoretical modeling with computational simulations, enabling in-depth observations of these quasiparticles in a wide range of materials.

Essentially, a polaron is a composite particle comprised of an electron surrounded by a cloud of phonons (i.e. lattice vibrations). This quasiparticle is heavier than the electron itself and due to its substantial weight it can sometimes become trapped in a crystal lattice.

Polarons contribute to the electric currentthat powers several technological tools, including organic light-emitting diodes and touchscreens. Understanding their properties is thus of key importance, as it could help to develop the next generation of various devices for lighting and optoelectronics.

Marc Vilanova | Phonos

Phonos provides the title for Marc Vilanova’s large-scale installation on the subject. 208 recycled speakers are sent signals in the form of infrasonic frequencies: sounds that are too low to be picked up by humans. The structure can’t reproduce the audio, so instead vibrates and gives shape to invisible forms.

Eyyyy finally got around to posting this. Ref sheets for Spector_authors characters Spokewheel of Praxus and Phonos of Proximax. Both pretty fun to draw.

The AO3 link below: