Photon vs. Phonon

Photonnoun

(particle) The quantum of light and other electromagnetic energy, regarded as a discrete particle having zero rest mass, no electric charge, and an indefinitely long lifetime. It is a gauge boson.

Photonnoun

a quantum of electromagnetic radiation; an elementary particle that is its own antiparticle

Photon

The photon (Greek: φῶς, phōs, light) is a type of elementary particle. It is the quantum of the electromagnetic field including electromagnetic radiation such as light and radio waves, and the force carrier for the electromagnetic force.

Phononnoun

(physics) The quantum of acoustic or vibrational energy (sound), considered a discrete particle rather than a wave.

Phononnoun

(linguistics) A unit of phonemics.

Phonon

In physics, a phonon is a collective excitation in a periodic, elastic arrangement of atoms or molecules in condensed matter, specifically in solids and some liquids. Often referred to as a quasiparticle, it is an excited state in the quantum mechanical quantization of the modes of vibrations for elastic structures of interacting particles.