We calculate vibrational modes in semiconductors using density-functio
nal theory in the local density approximation and norm-conserving Trou
llier-Martins pseudopotentials. We obtain the vibration frequencies fr
om a direct calculation of the dynamical matrix by using the supercell
method with plane wave expansion. In order to show the feasibility of
the method we here present the results for the phonon-dispersion curv
es of GaAs, ZnSe and cubic GaN crystals, which are in very good agreem
ent with neutron-scattering experiments and second-order Raman spectro
scopy.