Electric field switching of chiral phonons
Abstract
Abstract Lattice vibrations carrying angular momentum, known as chiral phonons, offer a route to couple lattice, electronic, and magnetic degrees of freedom, but their deterministic control has remained elusive. Here we demonstrate reversible electric-field switching of phonon angular momentum in the technologically-relevant ferroelectric BaTiO3. Using circularly dichroic resonant inelastic X-ray scattering, we directly resolve phonon chirality via angular momentum transfer between circularly polarised X-rays and the lattice. We observe a momentum dependent dichroic response that switches with ferroelectric polarisation, establishing a robust and non-volatile gyroelectric effect. The measured dichroism is in quantitative agreement with first-principles calculations. These results establish phonon angular momentum as an electrically controllable degree of freedom and provide a pathway toward phonon-based information and energy technologies.
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