In the relentless pursuit to revolutionize computing efficiency and tackle the monumental challenges posed by massive data demands, scientists have ventured deeper into the quantum domain. Among the latest breakthroughs is an emerging field termed “orbitronics,” which leverages a subtle yet powerful quantum property: the orbital angular momentum of electrons. Unlike the spin of electrons, which has been extensively explored, orbital angular momentum refers to the electron’s path around the nucleus—a dynamic characteristic that holds immense untapped potential for information storage and processing. Traditionally, harnessing this orbital property has necessitated the use of magnetic materials such as iron, known for their heavy weight, cost, and complexity. This traditional reliance has limited practical applications and scalability in orbitronics-based devices.
A groundbreaking study has now shattered these limitations. Through pioneering research, scientists have devised the most streamlined and efficient method yet to generate orbital angular momentum in electrons, bypassing the need for magnetic materials entirely. This advance pivots on the extraordinary properties of “chiral phonons,” a phenomenon gaining rapid traction in modern condensed matter physics. For the very first time, this study reveals that chiral phonons can directly transfer their orbital angular momentum to electrons, revolutionizing the way orbital currents are generated in non-magnetic materials.
Dr. Dali Sun, a distinguished physicist at North Carolina State University and co-author of the research, emphasizes the significance of the finding: traditionally, generating orbital currents has required complex injections of charge current into scarce transition metals, many of which are deemed critical due to supply concerns. This novel approach enables the use of cheaper, more abundant materials, significantly broadening the practical horizons of orbitronics technology. The elimination of magnets and external voltages is a paradigm shift, marking the inception of what could very well be a new technological era.
Valy Vardeny, a distinguished professor at the University of Utah’s Department of Physics & Astronomy and co-author, notes the transformative nature of the discovery. “We don’t need a magnet. We don’t need a battery. We don’t need to use voltage. We just need a material with chiral phonons,” he asserts, highlighting the unprecedented simplicity and elegance of the mechanism—something previously thought unimaginable.
The research journey began by exploring the distinct atomic arrangements and vibrations within crystals. In materials science, how atoms are configured dictates a material’s symmetries and physical properties. Metals, for example, often display highly symmetrical cubic lattice structures where each atom’s position has a mirror counterpart. Quartz and other chiral materials depart dramatically from this pattern, presenting a helical, screw-thread-like atomic arrangement. Their intrinsic “handedness,” either left- or right-handed, signifies a broken mirror symmetry known as chirality. This property, fundamental to phenomena from molecular biology to particle physics, profoundly influences the vibrations or phonons within these materials.
Phonons—the quantized modes of lattice vibrations—are integral to understanding thermal and many electronic properties of solids. In symmetrical materials, atomic vibrations typically occur in straightforward linear patterns. However, in chiral crystals like quartz, the atomic lattice enforces a circular, screw-like vibration pattern, generating chiral phonons with distinct angular momenta. These phonons essentially carry an internal rotational momentum due to the spiral motion of atoms.
Crucially, this internal angular momentum within chiral phonons acts as a reservoir of magnetic-like effects despite the host material being intrinsically non-magnetic. Researchers at the University of Utah harnessed the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory’s cutting-edge spectroscopic tools to observe and quantify this phenomenon. By directing laser light through α-quartz and analyzing subtle alterations in the reflected light’s wavelength and polarization, they unveiled the presence of significant internal magnetic fields generated by the chiral phonons.
The implications of these internal magnetic fields are profound. Normally, manipulating electron orbits requires an external magnetic stimulus due to the electrons’ negative charge and resulting magnetic moments. Here, however, the vibrations themselves create magnetic “levers,” as described by doctoral candidate Rikard Bodin, effectively exerting control over electron orbital states without conventional magnets or electrical currents.
To maximize the effect, the team applied external magnetic fields to align the chiral phonons’ handedness within quartz, achieving a critical mass of uniform, coherent orbital angular momentum. This alignment induced the “orbital Seebeck effect,” analogically related to the spin Seebeck effect, which traditionally involves the generation of spin currents driven by thermal gradients. In this new orbital variant, the heat-driven, phonon-mediated transfer of angular momentum gives rise to directed electron orbital currents.
Validating this effect required transforming an inherently elusive quantum current into a macroscopic, measurable electrical signal. The researchers deposited thin layers of tungsten and titanium atop α-quartz. These metals acted as transducers, converting the hidden orbital angular momentum flow into electrical signals detectable with standard instruments.
This innovative approach is not confined to quartz alone. The method is anticipated to be applicable across a range of chiral materials, including tellurium, selenium, and intriguing hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites. The efficiency gains are substantial, as the phenomenon requires less material usage and sustains orbital angular momentum over durations surpassing prior technologies.
This research marks a significant milestone in quantum materials science and orbitronics, charting a fresh course for information technologies. The elegance of harnessing intrinsic atomic vibrations to control electron dynamics without magnets or electrical inputs could inspire a new generation of low-power, efficient, and scalable devices. As the exploration of chiral phonons continues to deepen, further unforeseen applications might emerge, extending the frontier of quantum control in condensed matter systems.
Beyond immediate technological prospects, this discovery enriches fundamental understanding of phonon-electron interactions and the tapestry of angular momentum transfer mechanisms in solids. By revealing the magnetic capabilities nestled within chiral phonons, the study beckons renewed investigations into other quasiparticles and exotic states in quantum materials.
The collaborative effort involved prominent physicists and institutions worldwide, demonstrating an exemplary model of multidisciplinary research at the quantum frontier. Together with the integration of experimental innovation and theoretical insight, the work published in Nature Physics heralds an exciting chapter for orbitronics—a field with the potential to redefine computation and data storage paradigms of the future.
Subject of Research: Quantum materials and orbital angular momentum in electrons induced by chiral phonons
Article Title: Orbital Seebeck effect induced by chiral phonons
News Publication Date: January 21, 2026
Web References:
– https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-025-03134-x
References:
– “Orbital Seebeck effect induced by chiral phonons,” Nature Physics, Jan. 21, 2026, DOI: 10.1038/s41567-025-03134-x
Image Credits: North Carolina State University
Keywords
Electronics, Spintronics, Magnetic recording, Applied physics, Electromagnetic fields, Electromagnetic properties, Quantum electrodynamics, Electron spin
