Acoustic phonon drag in metals
Burak Bal

Acoustic phonon drag in metals arises from momentum transfer between charge carriers and lattice vibrations, significantly influencing thermoelectric and acoustic transport properties at low and intermediate temperatures. In metallic systems, sound propagation is governed by collective atomic motion, where acoustic phonons act as the primary carriers of mechanical energy. Interactions between electrons, atoms, and phonons lead to complex phonon-phonon scattering processes that modify thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity, and acoustic attenuation.
This work examines acoustic phonon drag using a molecular dynamics simulations to model atomic-scale lattice behavior. Molecular dynamics enables direct observation of atomic vibrations, phonon dispersion, and anharmonic phonon-phonon interactions, providing insight into how microscopic forces influence macroscopic acoustic properties. Special attention is given to the role of lattice defects, temperature, and interatomic potentials