Scientists have demonstrated a method to control electron motion using chiral phonons instead of magnets, a breakthrough that could simplify the development of orbitronic devices.
How chiral phonons enable orbital control in non-magnetic materials
The research, led by North Carolina State University and the University of Utah, showed that chiral phonons — collective atomic vibrations in twisted crystal lattices — can directly transfer orbital angular momentum to electrons. This eliminates the need for magnetic materials like iron, which have traditionally been required to generate orbital currents in orbitronics. The team used a non-magnetic material with inherent chirality, where atoms vibrate in circular patterns due to their screw-like arrangement. These chiral phonons act as carriers of angular momentum, pushing electrons into orbital motion without external magnetic fields, batteries, or applied voltage.
Why this removes a major barrier for practical orbitronics
Orbitronics aims to use electron orbital motion — rather than spin or charge — to process information, promising lower energy loss and higher efficiency. However, generating orbital currents has depended on critical transition metals that are expensive, scarce, and difficult to integrate at scale. By proving that chiral phonons can achieve this in simpler, more abundant materials, the study opens a path to devices that avoid supply chain constraints and complex manufacturing. As co-author Dali Sun noted, the method allows use of “cheaper, more abundant materials,” while Valy Vardeny emphasized that the approach needs only a material with chiral phonons — no magnet, no battery, no voltage.
What this means for future quantum and computing technologies
The discovery, published in Nature Physics, establishes a new mechanism for angular momentum transfer in solids, expanding the toolkit for quantum information processing. While still at the laboratory stage, the technique could enable orbitronic components in next-generation chips that rely on minimal energy dissipation. Researchers suggest the approach may be adapted to various chiral materials, potentially allowing integration into existing semiconductor processes. However, scaling the effect and maintaining chiral phonon coherence at room temperature remain challenges that will determine how quickly the finding translates into real-world applications.
What are chiral phonons?
Chiral phonons are vibrational waves that travel through materials with a twisted atomic structure, causing atoms to move in circular or spiral patterns rather than simple back-and-forth motion.
Why is avoiding magnets important for orbitronics?
Magnets require rare or critical materials, add weight and cost, and complicate device fabrication; eliminating them allows orbitronics to use simpler, more scalable materials.
