UCLA Hu Research Laboratory · Research highlight
Transport physics: phonons, anharmonicity, and heat transfer
We investigate the microscopic physics governing energy transport in solids. Our work on boron arsenide under high pressure combines spectroscopy and atomistic theory to study how phonon interactions reshape heat conduction.
Key findings
- High-pressure measurements investigate anomalous thermal transport in boron arsenide.
- Ultrafast optical, Raman, and inelastic X-ray measurements probe changes in phonon behavior.
- Atomistic theory connects the observations with competing contributions from higher-order anharmonic interactions.
Relevance to electronics and thermal management
Fundamental transport physics informs the design of semiconductor materials, heat spreaders, and interfaces. Together with our room-temperature phonon-focusing research, this work connects microscopic phonon behavior to opportunities for controlling heat transfer in electronics.
Publication and authors
Anomalous thermal transport under high pressure in boron arsenide
S. Li, Z. Qin, H. Wu, M. Li, M. Kunz, A. Alatas, A. Kavner, Yongjie Hu
[Nature 612, 459 (2022) · Download PDF]
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05381-x
Related research: Room-temperature phonon focusing [Nature Physics 22, 1416 (2026)]
Research connections
Cubic Boron Arsenide: From Materials Discovery to Device Applications, Semiconductor Integration, and Room-Temperature Quantum Phenomena
Our BAs research connects crystal synthesis and ultrahigh thermal conductivity with thermal interfaces, GaN device integration, high-pressure transport, and room-temperature phonon focusing.
Selected media coverage
- Strange Material Breaks a Classic Rule of Physics — Scientific American, April 2023
- This Semiconductor Breaks the Rules of Physics Under Pressure — Chemical & Engineering News, December 2022
- Discovery contradicts physics principle that heat always moves faster as pressure increases — NSF — National Science Foundation