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.     

Acoustic gas slip induced by surface waves

A boundary kinetic effect has been predicted on the basis of a model of interaction between Rayleigh surface acoustic waves (SAW) and a gas. The effect resembles some classic boundary effects such as thermal or diffusion gas slip. The functional dependence of the effect on gas and SAW parameters is presented. The slip phenomenon takes place due to angular restrictions of the scattered gas molecules because of the deformation of the solid surface.     

An emerging reactor technology for chemical synthesis: Surface acoustic wave-assisted closed-vessel Suzuki coupling reactions

In this paper we demonstrate the use of an energy-efficient surface acoustic wave (SAW) device for driving closed-vessel SAW-assisted (CVSAW), ligand-free Suzuki couplings in aqueous media. The reactions were carried out on a mmolar scale with low to ultra-low catalyst loadings. The reactions were driven by heating resulting from the penetration of acoustic energy derived from RF Raleigh waves generated by a piezoelectric chip via a renewable fluid coupling layer. The yields were uniformly high and the reactions could be executed without added ligand and in water. In terms of energy density this new technology was determined to be roughly as efficient as microwaves and superior to ultrasound.     

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.     

Surface acoustic waves in 2D-phononic crystal of laminated pillars on a semi-infinite ZnO substrate

In this paper a phononic crystal of laminated pillars which are composed of two materials on a semi-infinite ZnO substrate is proposed. The unit cell can be regarded as a double-resonator model, which explicates the variation of band gaps. It is revealed that the band structure of the PC is highly influenced by the proportion of PZT-4 in laminated pillars. Besides, the high-frequency band gaps are the result of combined actions of the local resonance and the Bragg scattering, and the former dominates. Furthermore, the influences of the structural damping are investigated. It is observed that the bandgap-ratio remain unchanged and the band gaps translate to the right with isotropic structural loss factor increasing. Additionally, by introducing linear defects inside the laminated pillars, elastic energy at surface is strongly confined within defect pillars, and the coupling between defective pillars and SAW is governed by the physical parameter of resonators.     

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.     

Surface acoustic waves and elastic constants of InN epilayers determined by Brillouin scattering

The surface acoustic wave velocity in InN has been experimentally determined by means of Brillouin scattering experiments on c ‐ and m ‐face epilayers. From simulations based on the Green's function formalism we determine the shear elastic constants c₆₆ and c₄₄ and propose a complete set of elastic constants for wurtzite InN. The analysis of the sagittal and azimuthal dependence of the surface acoustic wave velocity indicates a slightly different elastic behavior of the m ‐face sample that basically affects the c₄₄ elastic constant. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Exciton transport by surface acoustic waves

Long-range acoustic transport of excitons in GaAs quantum wells (QWs) is demonstrated. The mobile strain field of a surface acoustic wave creates a dynamic lateral type I modulation of the conduction and valence bands in a double-quantum-well (DQW) structure. This mobile potential modulation transports long-living indirect excitons in the DQW over several hundreds of μm.     

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.     

Spatial modulation of diffracted X-ray beam by bulk acoustic waves

Laue-geometry X-ray diffraction has been studied experimentally in quartz crystals excited by bulk acoustic waves. These waves deform reflecting atomic planes, which leads to spatial modulation of diffracted beams. We show that in the beam section perpendicular to the diffraction vector the intensity stripes appear whose number depends on the order of harmonic of the excited acoustic field. The intensity of appearing fringes depends on the amplitude of alternative voltage applied to the crystal.     

Making structured metals transparent for ultrabroadband electromagnetic waves and acoustic waves

In this review, we present our recent work on making structured metals transparent for broadband electromagnetic waves and acoustic waves via excitation of surface waves. First, we theoretically show that one-dimensional metallic gratings can become transparent and completely antireflective for extremely broadband electromagnetic waves by relying on surface plasmons or spoof surface plasmons. Second, we experimentally demonstrate that metallic gratings with narrow slits are highly transparent for broadband terahertz waves at oblique incidence and high transmission efficiency is insensitive to the metal thickness. Further, we significantly develop oblique metal gratings transparent for broadband electromagnetic waves (including optical waves and terahertz ones) under normal incidence. In the third, we find the principles of broadband transparency for structured metals can be extended from one-dimensional metallic gratings to two-dimensional cases. Moreover, similar phenomena are found in sonic artificially metallic structures, which present the transparency for broadband acoustic waves. These investigations provide guidelines to develop many novel materials and devices, such as transparent conducting panels, antireflective solar cells, and other broadband metamaterials and stealth technologies.     

Novel method for photovoltaic energy conversion using surface acoustic waves in piezoelectric semiconductors

This paper presents a novel principle for photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion using surface acoustic waves (SAWs) in piezoelectric semiconductors. A SAW produces a periodically modulated electric potential, which spatially segregates photoexcited electrons and holes to the maxima and minima of the SAW potential. The moving SAW collectively transports the carriers with the speed of sound to the electrodes made of different materials, which extract electrons and holes separately and generate dc output. The proposed active design is expected to have higher efficiency than passive designs of the existing PV devices and to produce enough energy to sustain the SAW.     

Generalized collar waves in acoustic logging while drilling

Tool waves, also named collar waves, propagating along the drill collars in acoustic logging while drilling(ALWD),strongly interfere with the needed P- and S-waves of a penetrated formation, which is a key issue in picking up formation P- and S-wave velocities. Previous studies on physical insulation for the collar waves designed on the collar between the source and the receiver sections did not bring to a satisfactory solution. In this paper, we investigate the propagation features of collar waves in different models. It is confirmed that there exists an indirect collar wave in the synthetic full waves due to the coupling between the drill collar and the borehole, even there is a perfect isolator between the source and the receiver.The direct collar waves propagating all along the tool and the indirect ones produced by echoes from the borehole wall are summarized as the generalized collar waves. Further analyses show that the indirect collar waves could be relatively strong in the full wave data. This is why the collar waves cannot be eliminated with satisfactory effect in many cases by designing the physical isolators carved on the tool.     

Surface and quasi-longitudinal acoustic waves in KTiOAsO4 single crystals

Surface and quasi-longitudinal acoustic wave properties have been investigated in potassium titanyl arsenate (KTiOAsO₄, KTA) single crystals for the first time. Surface acoustic wave (SAW) velocity, electromechanical coupling coefficient and power flow angle characteristics have been obtained in rotated Y-cut of KTA crystals. High SAW electromechanical coupling coefficient (0.4%) is found in Z-cut of KTA crystals. For high-frequency devices it is promising the resonators on quasi-longitudinal acoustic wave in X-cut of KTA crystals with sharp response in interdigital transducer conductance at resonance frequency.     

Laser generation of convergent acoustic waves for materials inspection

A laser technique for generating convergent acoustic waves is described. The optically probed Rayleigh wave in the centre of convergence shows an amplification factor of the order of 20 with respect to a collimated surface wave. Applications to the ultrasonic characterization of layered materials and to crack detection are described.     

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.     

磁控溅射制备ZnO薄膜及其声表面波特性

通过射频磁控溅射技术在GaAs，Au/GaAs，Si和玻璃基片上成功制备了ZnO多晶薄膜，利用X射线衍射对ZnO薄膜的取向、结晶性进行了表征，结果表明ZnO薄膜呈完全c轴取向，Au缓冲层可以有效地改善ZnO薄膜的晶体质量，X射线摇摆曲线结果表明ZnO(002)衍射峰的半高宽仅为2.41°，同时发现Au缓冲层的结晶质量对ZnO薄膜的c轴取向度有很大影响，通过扫描电子显微镜对ZnO/GaAs和ZnO/Au/GaAs薄膜的表面形貌进行了观测，利用网络分析仪对IDT/ZnO/GaAs薄膜的声表面波特性进行了测量. 关键词： ZnO薄膜 X射线衍射 声表面波     

Localization of electromagnetic and acoustic waves in random media. Lattice models

We consider lattice versions of Maxwell's equations and of the equation that governs the propagation of acoustic waves in a random medium. The vector nature of electromagnetic waves is fully taken into account. The medium is assumed to be a small perturbation of a periodic one. We prove rigorously that localized eigenstates arise in a vicinity of the edges of the gaps in the spectrum. A key ingredient is a new Wegner-type estimate for a class of lattice operators with off-diagonal disorder.     

Surface waves excited from negative-index materials

Studies on electromagnetic surface waves along the surface of a finitely thick plate made from negative-index materials are presented in this paper. Through theoretical analysis we worked out requirements on permeability and permittivity for surface waves to exist. Comparing with the model of a plate with infinite thickness, the one of finite thickness shows released requirements, leading to potential applications in guiding wave and developing radiation sources. With the help of particle-in-cell simulations, we examined theoretical predictions and demonstrated field distributions of surface waves.