Photon vs. Phonon — What's the Difference?

A particle representing a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation.

A quantized mode of vibration occurring in a rigid crystal lattice, representing the collective excitation in periodic structures.

The force carrier for the electromagnetic force, even when static via virtual photons.

Essential for understanding superconductivity and other phenomena.

A massless particle that always travels at the speed of light in vacuum.

A quasiparticle resulting from the quantization of lattice vibrations.

An elementary particle with zero charge and spin one.

Can interact with electrons and influence electrical properties of materials.

A packet of energy determined by its frequency, according to Planck's relation E=hf.

Involved in thermal properties of solids and how heat is conducted through them.

The photon (Greek: φῶς, phōs, light) is a type of elementary particle. It is the quantum of the electromagnetic field including electromagnetic radiation such as light and radio waves, and the force carrier for the electromagnetic force.

In physics, a phonon is a collective excitation in a periodic, elastic arrangement of atoms or molecules in condensed matter, specifically in solids and some liquids. Often referred to as a quasiparticle, it is an excited state in the quantum mechanical quantization of the modes of vibrations for elastic structures of interacting particles.

The elementary particle of light and other electromagnetic radiation; the quantum of electromagnetic energy. The photon is the massless, neutral vector boson that mediates electromagnetic interactions.

The quantum of acoustic or vibrational energy, considered as a quasiparticle and used especially in mathematical models to calculate thermal and vibrational properties of solids.

(particle) The quantum of light and other electromagnetic energy, regarded as a discrete particle having zero rest mass, no electric charge, and an indefinitely long lifetime. It is a gauge boson.

(physics) The quantum of acoustic or vibrational energy (sound), considered a discrete particle rather than a wave.

A quantum of electromagnetic radiation; an elementary particle that is its own antiparticle

(linguistics) A unit of phonemics.

Yes, photons can be absorbed or emitted by atoms during electronic transitions or other electromagnetic interactions.

No, phonons are quasiparticles, which means they are not actual particles but represent collective excitations within a material.

A photon is a quantum of electromagnetic radiation with no mass that travels at the speed of light and is responsible for carrying electromagnetic forces.

Phonons are important in understanding and designing materials for heat management in electronics, acoustic insulators, and thermoelectric devices.

Photons are fundamental in quantum mechanics as they are carriers of quantum information and entanglement, central to the theories of quantum field and quantum optics.

Photons are massless particles; they do not have rest mass, which allows them to travel at the speed of light in a vacuum.

Photons interact with charged particles, influencing phenomena like the photoelectric effect and radiative heat transfer, while phonons interact with other phonons and atomic imperfections, affecting thermal and electrical properties of solids.

A phonon is a quantum of vibrational energy in a crystal lattice that affects its thermal and acoustic properties.

Photons travel at the speed of light, the maximum possible speed, while phonons propagate at the speed of sound within their respective materials.

Photons are crucial in technologies such as lasers, fiber optics communication, and solar cells, where their properties like wavelength and energy are exploited.

While phonons are primarily involved in heat and sound transmission within materials, recent research explores using them for information transfer in quantum computing, although not as broadly as photons in optical communications.

Phonons are crucial in the theory of superconductivity, particularly in how electron pairs (Cooper pairs) interact via phonons to create a state of zero electrical resistance.

Phonons are created when atoms in a solid vibrate from their equilibrium position, usually due to thermal energy, where these collective vibrations represent phonons.

Yes, phonons can significantly affect the performance of electronic devices by influencing thermal conductivity and electron scattering, impacting device stability and efficiency.