Study on measurement of dispersive characteristics of higher order mode Lamb waves

The dispersive characteristics of higher order mode Lamb waves (HOMLW) excited by interdigital transducers (IDT) are measured and analyzed, which are necessary for designing micro-sensor in ultrahigh frequency (UHF). A measurement system is set up, in which dispersive characteristics of HOMLW are obtained by the method of transform between frequency and time domains. The characteristics of amplitude-frequency and phase-frequency of Lamb wave are auto-measured by the system. By IFFT, the pulse response of the IDT device was obtained. Different modes were separated in time domain and dispersive curve of each mode is calculated by FFT. The best mode is chosen to design the micro-sensor in UHF. The phase velocity of HOMLW is greater than the surface wave (SAW) velocity and an oscillator in higher frequency can be made, so the absolute sensitivity of micro-sensor can be increased. In this paper, the dispersive characteristics of HOMLW excited by an IDT in a 127.86 degrees rotated Y-cut, X propagating lithium niobate plate is analyzed. An oscillator using a(13) mode is made, the phase velocity of which is measured about 19,652 m/s when h/lambda=0.94 (h=plate thickness, lambda=wavelength).