Quantum Drumhead Membrane Shows Near-Lossless Phonon Transmission for Future Tech

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with the University of Konstanz and ETH Zurich, have developed an ultra-thin, perforated membrane that allows phonons—vibrations in a solid material—to travel through it with astonishingly low loss. This near-lossless transmission is far superior to that seen in traditional electronic circuits. The membrane, which resembles a drumhead about 10mm wide with triangular holes, has demonstrated the ability to transfer signals with minimal loss—only one phonon is lost per million. Such low signal loss could revolutionize fields like quantum computing and ultra-sensitive biological sensors. Quantum computing, which relies on the precise transfer of signals between different parts of a computer, could benefit greatly from this discovery. The researchers are also exploring further applications, including creating more complex structures to observe how phonons interact in various configurations. This development represents a significant leap in the reliability of signal transfer for quantum technologies and biological measurements. The findings were published in the journal *Nature* in July 2025.