Modulation of the electronic properties of GaAs quantum wells induced by surface acoustic waves

We investigated the modulation of the optical properties of GaAs-based structures by a surface acoustic wave (SAW) by microscopic measurements of reflectance and photoluminescence. We demonstrate that for photon energies away from electronic resonances, the modulation of the optical properties is associated with the strain field of the SAW (elastooptical mechanism). Close to the E₀ resonance, the electrooptical modulation due to the SAW piezoelectric fields becomes important and leads to a spatial modulation of the photoluminescence intensity.     

Power-mode theorems for guided acoustic waves in piezoelectric media

Relationships between complex power flow pseudo energy, propagation constant and complex frequency are presented for acoustic waves in piezoelectric media. These relationships are essentially energy-power equations which apply to anisotropic, nonconservative, dispersive, linear systems, analogous to those obtained by Chorney and Penfield for guided electromagnetic waves. At vanishing piezoelectric coupling the powermode theorems split into a proper electromagnetic set and a proper mechanical set. By differentiating the power-mode equations with respect to the complex frequency further results are obtained linking the group velocity with power flow and energy storage. Conclusions may be drawn from these expressions regarding the signature of the dispersion (forward or backward waves). The equipartition of pseudo energy is established at cut-off, and the vanishing of the complex power flow at resonance. Examples including wave propagation in lossless and lossy media are included.     

Frequency separation of surface acoustic waves in layered structures with acoustic metamaterials

We show theoretically that in elastic layered structures containing an upper layer of smoothly varied thickness and a substrate of a highly dispersive metametarial it is possible to significantly enhance spatial frequency separation of surface acoustic waves. Theory of Love surface acoustic waves propagation in waveguides with varied thickness, taking into account mutual modes coupling, is built. Appropriate structure of metamatererial with resonant frequency dependence of material parameters, making frequency separation effective, is provided. Efficiency of spatial frequency separation and modes coupling is calculated for various metamaterial parameters and wave frequencies.     

Numerical simulation of laser-generated surface acoustic waves in the transparent coating on a substrate by the finite element method

The optimum finite element model in the system consisting of a transparent coating and an opaque substrate is established based on the analysis of two important parameters: meshing size and time step, and the stability of solution. Taking into account the temperature dependence of material properties, the transient temperature and temperature gradient field are obtained. According to the thermoelastic theory, this temperature gradient field can be taken as a buried bulk source to generate ultrasonic wave. The surface acoustic waves (SAWs) are obtained. The influence of the coating thickness on the SAWs is analyzed. The model provides a useful tool for the determination of modes which are generated by a laser source in transparent coating on opaque substrate. The surface skimming longitudinal wave exists for the multiple oscillations and it charges from unipolar waveforms to dipolar.     

SH surface acoustic wave propagation in a cylindrically layered piezomagnetic/piezoelectric structure

SH surface acoustic wave (SH-SAW) propagation in a cylindrically layered magneto-electro-elastic structure is investigated analytically, where a piezomagnetic (or piezoelectric) material layer is bonded to a piezoelectric (or piezomagnetic) substrate. By means of transformation, the governing equations of the coupled waves are reduced to Bessel equation and Laplace equation. The boundary conditions imply that the displacements, shear stresses, electric potential, and electric displacements are continuous across the interface between the layer and the substrate together with the traction free at the surface of the layer. The magneto-electrically open and shorted conditions at cylindrical surface are taken to solve the problem. The phase velocity is numerically calculated for different thickness of the layer and wavenumber for piezomagnetic ceramics CoFe₂O₄ and piezoelectric ceramics BaTiO₃. The effects of magnetic permeability on propagation properties of SH-SAW are discussed in detail. The distributions of displacement, magnetic potential and magneto-electromechanical coupling factor are also figured and discussed.     

光击穿机制下的光声能量转换效率

建立了激光声实验测量系统,利用脉冲激光聚焦击穿水介质产生声信号。由水听器将声信号转换成电信号并送入数字存储示波器,计算出声信号能量。对不同激光能量、激光聚焦位置和水体盐度下的光声能量转换效率进行了理论和实验研究。研究结果表明：随着激光能量的提高,能量转换效率逐渐减小;激光垂直水面入射时,随着激光聚焦深度的增加,能量转换效率会出现一次阶跃式变大,随后逐渐降低;等离子体对激光能量的吸收越充分,能量转换效率越高;水体盐度的变化对能量转换效率影响很小。     

Surface morphological changes induced in catalysts by acoustic waves

An interdigital transducer device equipped with a metal catalyst sample that can be used to enhance catalytic activity by acoustic excitation is investigated. It was found that the propagation of 20 MHz surface acoustic waves of the Rayleigh type on Pt thin film single crystals causes drastic changes in surface morphology. The process of film breaking is observed and it is concluded that a phase shift in the acoustic wave induced by folds and cavities in the sample is responsible for the appearance of cracks. The influence of the change in morphology on catalytic activity and the acoustically induced rate enhancement effect is studied, and it is concluded that these changes are not a significant factor in the observed enhancement.     

Focussed surface acoustic waves on an anisotropic crystal, studied by optical probing

Efficient focussing of surface acoustic waves has been achieved using a properly shaped gold film deposit on the −22.3° rotated Y-cut surface of quartz. The acoustic wave field was studied with laser probing techniques. A more than threefold increase in intensity and a tenfold decrease in beam width was observed at the focal point. The focussing action was obtained with the elastic wave equivalent of the Fresnel phase-reversal zone plate of optics. The multiple foci of this device allowed a simultaneous generation of acoustic waves in nearly all directions on the surface. Consequently, the surface wave velocity anisotropy could be determined completely. The experimental results are in very good agreement with the calculated velocity anisotropy. Electromagnetic diffraction theory is adopted to the two dimensional anisotropic system to analyse the performance of the focussing device.     

A theoretical study of the propagation of Rayleigh waves in a functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM)

An exact approach is used to investigate Rayleigh waves in a functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) layer bonded to a semi infinite homogenous solid. The piezoelectric material is polarized when the six fold symmetry axis is put along the propagation direction x₁. The FGPM character imposes that the material properties change gradually with the thickness of the layer. Contrary to the analytical approach, the adopted numerical methods, including the ordinary differential equation (ODE) and the stiffness matrix method (SMM), treat separately the electrical and mechanical gradients. The influences of graded variations applied to FGPM film coefficients on the dispersion curves of Rayleigh waves are discussed. The effects of gradient coefficients on electromechanical coupling factor, displacement fields, stress distributions and electrical potential, are reported. The obtained deviations in comparison with the ungraded homogenous film are plotted with respect to the dimensionless wavenumber. Opposite effects are observed on the coupling factor when graded variations are applied separately. A particular attention has been devoted to the maximum of the coupling factor and it dependence on the stratification rate and the gradient coefficient. This work provides with a theoretical foundation for the design and practical applications of SAW devices with high performance.     

Dressed ion acoustic solitary waves in quantum plasmas with two polarity ions and relativistic electron beams

A theory for dressed quantum ion acoustic waves (QIAWs), which includes higher-order corrections when QIAWs are investigated by the reductive perturbation method, is presented for unmagnetized plasmas containing positive and negative ions and weakly relativistic electron beams. The properties of the QIAWs are investigated using a quantum hydrodynamic model, from which a Korteweg–de Vries equation is derived using the reductive perturbation method. An equation including higher-order dispersion and nonlinearity corrections is also derived, and the physical parameter space is discussed for the importance of these corrections.     

Incredible negative values of effective electromechanical coupling coefficient for surface acoustic waves in piezoelectrics

The extraordinary case of increase in velocity of surface acoustic waves (SAW) caused by electrical shorting of the surface of the superstrong piezoelectric crystal potassium niobate, KNbO3, is numerically found. The explanation of this effect is based on considering SAWs as coupled Rayleigh and Bleustein-Gulyaev modes. A general procedure of approximate decoupling of the modes is suggested for piezoelectric crystals of arbitrary anisotropy. The effect under study takes place when the phase velocity of uncoupled sagittally polarized Rayleigh waves is intermediate between the phase velocities of uncoupled shear-horizontal Bleustein Gulyaev waves at the free and metallized surfaces. In this case, the metallization of the surface by an infinitely thin layer may cause a crossover of the velocity curves of the uncoupled waves. The presence of the mode coupling results in splitting of the curves with transition from one uncoupled branch to the other. This transition is responsible for the increase in SAW velocity, which appears to be greater than its common decrease produced by electrical shorting of the substrate surface.     

On propagation of anti-plane shear waves in piezoelectric plates with surface effect

Based on the surface piezoelectricity model, the anti-plane or horizontally polarized shear (SH) waves propagating in an infinite piezoelectric plate of nano-thickness are investigated to show the surface effect on wave characteristics. The influence on the overall properties of piezoelectric structures resulting from the surface effect is treated as a spring force exerting on the boundary of the bulk. The frequency equations of anti-symmetric and symmetric waves are presented analytically for the electrically short-circuited case. Numerical results show that the wave properties are size-dependent, and the surface effect becomes very pronounced at a high frequency.     

Efficient intensity modulation due to surface acoustic waves on windows of the AlGaN/InGaN multiple quantum well laser

An alternative method for modulation of light generated by AlGaN/InGaN multiple quantum well laser with quartz antireflective (AR) coatings covering the resonator windows was modelled and studied theoretically. Disturbance of the piezoelectric coatings caused by surface acoustic waves (SAW) results in efficient intensity modulation of the laser beam. The model for the laser diode operating at DC demonstrates that the modulation factor can exceed 0.2 in sub-nanometer SAW displacement. For quarter-wave AR films, the carrier frequency of modulated beam has twice the frequency of SAW.     

Theoretical validation on the existence of two transverse surface waves in piezoelectric/elastic layered structures

In this paper, we analytically study the dispersion behavior of transverse surface waves in a piezoelectric coupled solid consisting of a transversely isotropic piezoelectric ceramic layer and an isotropic metal or dielectric substrate. This study is a revisit to the stiffened Love wave propagation done previously. Closed-form dispersion equations are obtained in a very simple mathematical form for both electrically open and shorted cases. From the viewpoint of physical situation, two transverse surface waves (i.e., the stiffened Love wave and the FDLW-type wave) are separately found in a PZT-4/steel system and a PZT-4/zinc system. All the observed dispersion curves are theoretically validated through the discussion on the limit values of phase velocity using the obtained dispersion equations. Those validation and discussion give rise to a deeper understanding on the existence of transverse surface waves in such piezoelectric coupled structures. The results can be used as a benchmark for the study of the wave propagation in the piezoelectric coupled structures and are significant in the design of wave propagation in the piezoelectric coupled structures as well.     

The viscous effects on shear horizontal surface acoustic waves in semi-infinite superlattices

In this paper, by a semi-analytical method, the propagation characteristics of shear horizontal surface acoustic waves in semi-infinite superlattices containing viscous materials are investigated. The factors that influence the attenuation and phase velocity of the surface waves are analyzed in detail. The results may be useful for the design of acoustic wave devices.     

Acousto-optic interaction with leaky surface acoustic waves in Y-cut LiTaO3 crystals

The acousto-optic interaction with leaky surface acoustic wave radiation into the bulk of YX-cut LiTaO₃ crystals has been investigated. The light incidence and diffraction angles corresponding to the strongest acousto-optic interaction were calculated and measured as functions of the acoustic wave frequency. The dependencies of the diffracted light intensity on the amplitude of radio-frequency voltage applied to the interdigital transducer (IDT) were studied. Our acousto-optic measurements revealed generation, by the IDTs, of slow shear bulk acoustic waves propagating at different angles depending on their frequency. A secondary acousto-optic interaction from the bulk waves radiated by the receiving IDT has been studied.     

Effect of the surface free energy on the behaviour of surface and guided waves

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the influence of the surface free energy upon the propagation of the eigenmodes of structures, by studying successively (a) the Rayleigh wave for an elastic half-space, (b) the Lamb waves for an elastic layer, and (c) the guided modes for a tri-layer structure (e.g., metal/adhesive/metal). The surface free energy is a parameter which appears in the jump conditions of stresses and displacements at each interface, and which consequently modifies the eigenmodes, solutions of the boundary conditions system. As expected, the Rayleigh wave is dispersive and its velocity increases when the surface free energy increases. In the same way, the velocity of Lamb waves also increases except at normal angle of propagation where the surface free energy does not arise. Moreover, near the Rayleigh angle, the behaviour of the A₀ and S₀ Lamb modes varies strongly according to the surface free energy. Similar results are observed for the tri-layer structure.     

Proposed solar energy conversion and storage system using a nano-ring in an array waveguide

We propose the new solar energy conversion and storage system using the array waveguide. It can be used to generate and store solar energy within the nano-array waveguide system. The system consists of micro- and nano-ring resonators incorporating a Mach Zhender Interferometer (MZI) that can be integrated into a single system. The large bandwidth signal, i.e. white light, is generated using a soliton pulse in a Kerr-type nonlinear medium propagating within a micro-ring resonator system. The control light concept is applied using a nano-waveguide incorporating an MZI, whereas the incoherent light is filtered being coherence, which is amplified and stored within the system. The white light can be re-generated using the stored coherent light pulse. Furthermore, the combination of signals is formed by the array waveguide, which is allowed to generate the huge amount of solar energy output.     

Nebulization of siRNA for inhalation therapy based on a microfluidic surface acoustic wave platform

The local delivery of therapeutic small interfering RNA or siRNA to the lungs has the potential to improve the prognosis for patients suffering debilitating lung diseases. Recent advances in materials science have been aimed at addressing delivery challenges including biodistribution, bioavailability and cell internalization, but an equally important challenge to overcome is the development of an inhalation device that can deliver the siRNA effectively to the lung, without degrading the therapeutic itself. Here, we report the nebulization of siRNA, either naked siRNA or complexed with polyethyleneimine (PEI) or a commercial transfection agent, using a miniaturizable acoustomicrofluidic nebulization device. The siRNA solution could be nebulised without significant degradation into an aerosol mist with tunable mean aerodynamic diameters of approximately 3 µm, which is appropriate for deep lung deposition via inhalation. The nebulized siRNA was tested for its stability, as well as its toxicity and gene silencing properties using the mammalian lung carcinoma cell line A549, which demonstrated that the gene silencing capability of siRNA is retained after nebulization. This highlights the potential application of the acoustomicrofluidic device for the delivery of efficacious siRNA via inhalation, either for systemic delivery via the alveolar epithelium or local therapeutic delivery to the lung.