Chiral Surface Phonons

Abstract

We use symmetry arguments combined with density functional theory to demonstrate that all surfaces of crystalline materials host surface phonons that are chiral. As model system, we study slabs of highly symmetric AB rocksalt compounds, and find surface-localized phonons whose atomic displacements exhibit chiral motion. We further show that these chiral surface phonons generate sheets of in-plane magnetism at the surface. Our results reveal that chiral phonons can emerge in all crystalline materials as a result of reduced symmetry at surfaces or interfaces. These findings establish surfaces as a previously overlooked source of chiral phonons and their associated magnetic moments, which could play a role in a broad range of surface-sensitive measurements.