Chip-scale phonon lasers could power faster, more efficient wireless tech

Researchers have demonstrated a solid-state surface acoustic wave phonon laser on a tiny chip, creating coherent GHz vibrations by stacking lithium niobate and indium gallium arsenide. This chip-level device amplifies surface waves without needing an external RF source, potentially enabling all-in-one-chip signal processing for wireless communications and reducing power and size in future smartphones.