Physicists build microscopic 'trampoline' to improve sound wave control in microchips

The wildest trampoline in the world swings sideways and "around corners." Yet, no one can jump on it, because it's not even a millimeter tall. Physicists from the University of Konstanz, the University of Copenhagen, and ETH Zurich designed and constructed it. Why? The aim is to demonstrate improved methods of phonon transport—for example, for use in microchips, where phonons are directed through tight bends. The research is published in the journal Nature.

Jun 5, 2025 - 16:32
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The wildest trampoline in the world swings sideways and "around corners." Yet, no one can jump on it, because it's not even a millimeter tall. Physicists from the University of Konstanz, the University of Copenhagen, and ETH Zurich designed and constructed it. Why? The aim is to demonstrate improved methods of phonon transport—for example, for use in microchips, where phonons are directed through tight bends. The research is published in the journal Nature.