Article
Article
- Physics
- Quantum mechanics
- Quantum acoustics
Quantum acoustics
Article By:
Maris, Humphrey J. Department of Physics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Last reviewed:August 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.562350
- Sound and phonons
- Complementarity principle
- Size of quanta
- Phonoatomic effect
- Phonon-phonon interactions
- Sound attenuation by electrons
- Resonant absorption of phonons
- Phonon maser
- Related Primary Literature
- Additional Reading
The investigation of the effects of the laws of quantum mechanics on the propagation and absorption of sound. At the present stage of development of physical science, quantum mechanics is the most fundamental theory of physical phenomena. However, for many applications in the everyday world, a sufficiently accurate description of nature is provided by classical mechanics. Quantum acoustics refers to acoustic experiments that are carried out under conditions such that the results can be understood only in terms of quantum theory. As a general tendency, quantum effects become more important in acoustic experiments that are performed with higher-frequency sound waves or that are carried out at lower temperatures. See also: Nonrelativistic quantum theory; Quantum mechanics
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