Pusan National University (PNU) is embarking on a new research frontier in quantum phononics, an emerging field focused on phonons, the quanta of collective atomic vibrations in solid materials. By enabling the precise control of phonon states, this research could open new possibilities for lossless information transmission and quantum-state manipulation.

To advance this initiative, PNU held the opening ceremony of its Quantum Phononics Research Center, established through the 2026 government-funded Science Research Center (SRC) Program under the Ministry of Science and ICT. With government funding supplemented by matching contributions from Busan Metropolitan City and PNU, the center is expected to receive a total of KRW 13.2 billion over seven years to support its collaborative research initiatives.

Under PNU's leadership, the project will bring together researchers from KAIST, GIST, Yonsei University, the Korea Institute for Advanced Study (KIAS), DGIST, POSTECH, and Seoul National University to pursue joint research in quantum phononics.

The Quantum Phononics Research Center aims to redefine phonons, traditionally understood in the context of thermal vibrations, as actively controllable quantum degrees of freedom capable of manipulating energy, information, and quantum states. As part of this initiative, the center will begin by establishing a "phonon genome" based on a comprehensive understanding of phonons in relation to material structures, crystal structures, band topology, chirality, and angular momentum. Through this multifaceted approach, PNU aims to pioneer quantum phononics as a new and emerging field of research.

Building on this initiative, PNU will continue to support its researchers in establishing a new research paradigm that could overcome the limitations of existing electron-based technologies. By exploring possibilities such as ultrafast quantum-state switching and low-loss thermal transport, the University aims to open new directions in quantum technology and advance the future of energy and information technologies.

Photo: Opening ceremony of PNU’s Quantum Phononics Research Center.