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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Imaging of surface acoustic waves on GaAs using 2D confocal Raman microscopy and atomic force microscopy

Surface acoustic wave devices have been fabricated on a GaAs (100) substrate to demonstrate the capability of 2D Raman microscopy as an imaging technique for acoustic waves on the surface of a piezoelectric substrate. Surface acoustic waves are generated using a two-port interdigitated transducer platform, which is modified to produce surface standing waves. We have derived an analytical model to relate Raman peak broadening to the near-surface strain field of the GaAs surface produced by the surface acoustic waves. Additionally, atomic force microscopy is used to confirm the presence of a standing acoustic wave, resolving a total vertical displacement of 3 nm at the antinode of the standing wave. Stress calculations are performed for both imaging techniques and are in good agreement, demonstrating the potential of this Raman analysis.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Thermal Modulation of Gigahertz Surface Acoustic Waves on Lithium Niobate

Surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) devices have a wide range of applications in microwave signal processing. Microwave SAW components benefit from higher quality factors and much smaller crosstalk when compared to their electromagnetic counterparts. Efficient routing and modulation of SAWs are essential for building large-scale and versatile acoustic wave circuits. Here, we demonstrate integrated thermoacoustic modulators using two SAW platforms: bulk lithium niobate and thin-film lithium niobate on sapphire. In both approaches, the gigahertz-frequency SAWs are routed by integrated acoustic waveguides, while on-chip microheaters are used to locally change the temperature, and thus, control the phase of the SAW. Using this approach, we achieve phase changes of over 720° with the responsibility of 2.6°/mW for bulk lithium niobate and 0.52°/mW for lithium niobate on sapphire. Furthermore, we demonstrate amplitude modulation of SAWs using acoustic Mach-Zehnder interferometers. Our thermoacoustic modulators can enable reconfigurable acoustic signal processing for next-generation wireless communications and microwave systems.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2023

Arguments for the Physical Nature of the Triggered Ion-Acoustic Waves Observed on the Parker Solar Probe

Triggered ion-acoustic waves are a pair of coupled waves observed in the previously unexplored plasma regime near the Sun. They may be capable of producing important effects on the solar wind. Because this wave mode has not been observed or studied previously and it is not fully understood, the issue of whether it has a natural origin or is an instrumental artifact can be raised. This paper discusses this issue by examining 13 features of the data such as whether the triggered ion-acoustic waves are electrostatic, whether they are both narrowband, whether they satisfy the requirement that the electric field is parallel to the k-vector, whether the phase difference between the electric field and the density fluctuations is 90°, whether the two waves have the same phase velocity as they must if they are coupled, whether the phase velocity is that of an ion-acoustic wave, whether they are associated with other parameters such as electron heating, whether the electric field instrument otherwise performed as expected, etc. The conclusion reached from these analyses is that triggered ion-acoustic waves are highly likely to have a natural origin although the possibility that they are artifacts unrelated to processes occurring in the natural plasma cannot be eliminated. This inability to absolutely rule out artifacts as the source of a measured result is a characteristic of all measurements.

Electric fields↗
NASA NTRS1972

Mode-coupling and wave-particle interactions for unstable ion-acoustic waves.

A theory for the spatial development of linearly unstable, coupled waves is presented in which both quasilinear and mode-coupling effects are treated in a self-consistent manner. Steady-state excitation of two waves is assumed at the boundary x = 0, the plasma being homogeneous in the y and z directions. Coupled equations are derived for the x dependence of the amplitudes of the primary waves and the secondary waves, correct through terms of second order in the wave amplitude, but without the usual approximation of small growth rates. This general formalism is then applied to the case of coupled ion-acoustic waves driven unstable by an ion beam streaming in the direction of the x axis. If the modifications of the ion beam by the waves (quasilinear effects) are ignored, explosive instabilities (singularities in all of the amplitudes at finite x) are found even when all of the waves have positive energy. If these wave-particle interactions are included, the solutions are no longer singular, and all of the amplitudes have finite maxima.

Martin, P.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Individually Identifiable Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors, Tags and Systems

A surface-launched acoustic wave sensor tag system for remotely sensing and/or providing identification information using sets of surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor tag devices is characterized by acoustic wave device embodiments that include coding and other diversity techniques to produce groups of sensors that interact minimally, reducing or alleviating code collision problems typical of prior art coded SAW sensors and tags, and specific device embodiments of said coded SAW sensor tags and systems. These sensor/tag devices operate in a system which consists of one or more uniquely identifiable sensor/tag devices and a wireless interrogator. The sensor device incorporates an antenna for receiving incident RF energy and re-radiating the tag identification information and the sensor measured parameter(s). Since there is no power source in or connected to the sensor, it is a passive sensor. The device is wirelessly interrogated by the interrogator.

Hines, Jacqueline H.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Individually identifiable surface acoustic wave sensors, tags and systems

A surface-launched acoustic wave sensor tag system for remotely sensing and/or providing identification information using sets of surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor tag devices is characterized by acoustic wave device embodiments that include coding and other diversity techniques to produce groups of sensors that interact minimally, reducing or alleviating code collision problems typical of prior art coded SAW sensors and tags, and specific device embodiments of said coded SAW sensor tags and systems. These sensor/tag devices operate in a system which consists of one or more uniquely identifiable sensor/tag devices and a wireless interrogator. The sensor device incorporates an antenna for receiving incident RF energy and re-radiating the tag identification information and the sensor measured parameter(s). Since there is no power source in or connected to the sensor, it is a passive sensor. The device is wirelessly interrogated by the interrogator.

Hines, Jacqueline H.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Frequency‐Locked Wireless Multifunctional Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors

Abstract Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) have shown great potential for developing sensors for structural health monitoring (SHM) and lab‐on‐a‐chip (LOC) applications. Existing SAW sensors mainly rely on measuring the frequency shifts of high‐frequency (e.g., >0.1 GHz) resonance peaks. This study presents frequency‐locked wireless multifunctional SAW sensors that enable multiple wireless sensing functions, including strain sensing, temperature measurement, water presence detection, and vibration sensing. These sensors leverage SAW resonators on piezoelectric chips, inductive coupling‐based wireless power transmission, and, particularly, a frequency‐locked wireless sensing mechanism that works at low frequencies (e.g., <0.1 GHz). This mechanism locks the input frequency on the slope of a sensor's reflection spectrum and monitors the reflection signal's amplitude change induced by the changes of sensing parameters. The proof‐of‐concept experiments show that these wireless sensors can operate in a low‐power active mode for on‐demand wireless strain measurement, temperature sensing, and water presence detection. Moreover, these sensors can operate in a power‐free passive mode for vibration sensing, with results that agree well with laser vibrometer measurements. It is anticipated that the designs and mechanisms of the frequency‐locked wireless SAW sensors will inspire researchers to develop future wireless multifunctional sensors for SHM and LOC applications.

Bo, Luyu↗
NASA NTRS1983

An all fiber-optic sensor for surface acoustic wave measurements

A surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor constructed from single-mode fiber-optic components is described. An analysis of reciprocal and nonreciprocal modes of operation of the sensor is presented. Results from measurements on a variety of SAW devices illustrate the use of the sensor. The amplitude sensitivity is 0.0003 A for an integration time of 0.1 s.

Bowers, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS2009

A Comparison of Surface Acoustic Wave Modeling Methods

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology is low cost, rugged, lightweight, extremely low power and can be used to develop passive wireless sensors. For these reasons, NASA is investigating the use of SAW technology for Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring (IVHM) of aerospace structures. To facilitate rapid prototyping of passive SAW sensors for aerospace applications, SAW models have been developed. This paper reports on the comparison of three methods of modeling SAWs. The three models are the Impulse Response Method a first order model, and two second order matrix methods; the conventional matrix approach, and a modified matrix approach that is extended to include internal finger reflections. The second order models are based upon matrices that were originally developed for analyzing microwave circuits using transmission line theory. Results from the models are presented with measured data from devices.

Wilson, W. c.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Ion heating via turbulent ion acoustic waves.

The ion acoustic turbulence in the turbulent-heating experiment reported is excited by the ion-ion beam instability. Graphs are presented, showing the spatial evolution of the parallel ion beam energy and the spatial evolution of the ion acoustic turbulent wave spectrum. The observed characteristics of test waves in a turbulent beam-plasma imply that wave saturation is a dynamic balance between the emission of waves by the beam and the destruction or damping of wave coherence by the turbulent diffusion of particle orbits.

Taylor, R. J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Sensitivity measurements for a 250 MHz quartz shear-horizontal surface acoustic wave biosensor under liquid viscous loading

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices have been used in biochemical assays due to their high sensitivity. The device sensitivity is a function of changes in the density and viscosity of the liquid. Here, we studied the effect of fluid viscosity using a 250 MHz quartz shear-horizontal (SH)-SAW biosensor by monitoring different concentrations of binary aqueous/glycerol solutions. In this study, the sensitivity of the biosensor was determined by fitting the data to models derived from perturbation theory. Measurements in water were used as the reference. For a 0% to 50% glycerol solution, an 87°–204° separation in the phase shift was observed. The slope of the plot of the phase shift vs (ηρ)0.5 was used to indicate the sensor’s sensitivity. The sensitivity for our 250 MHz quartz SH-SAW sensors was calculated to be 3.7×10−3m2sKg. The corresponding mass sensitivity was determined to be 9.25 × 105m2Kg. The limit of detection was calculated to be 36 picograms (pg), while the limit of quantification or LOQ was calculated to be 109 pg. Traditionally, liquid phase measurements have been challenging for SAW devices because liquids dampen the vibrating sensors severely. This problem has been largely solved using a transverse (shear) wave instead of the more popular longitudinal or Rayleigh waves. Liquid measurements are now possible using transverse waves, also known as shear waves, because transverse waves are only minimally attenuated by liquids. Shear-horizontal SAW sensors (SH-SAW) show great promise as label-free biosensors because of their ability to handle liquid samples. However, the viscosity of the liquid still induces loading effects and can be measured when the liquid is loaded onto the SH-SAW propagating surface (delay line). When the liquid above the delay line is perturbed by physical or chemical changes, such as binding to a receptor, it alters the propagating acoustic wave. The SH-SAW device can measure these changes in liquid properties as a change in the wave’s phase compared to the original wave. The device’s phase shift was recorded as a function of the changes in the density and viscosity of the binary glycerol solution and used to determine the sensitivity in the linear dynamic range of responses.

Materials Science↗
DOE OSTI2023

Real-time imaging of acoustic waves in bulk materials with X-ray microscopy

The dynamics of lattice vibrations govern many material processes, such as acoustic wave propagation, displacive phase transitions, and ballistic thermal transport. The maximum velocity of these processes and their effects is determined by the speed of sound, which therefore defines the temporal resolution (picoseconds) needed to resolve these phenomena on their characteristic length scales (nanometers). Here, we present an X-ray microscope capable of imaging acoustic waves with subpicosecond resolution within mm-sized crystals. We directly visualize the generation, propagation, branching, and energy dissipation of longitudinal and transverse acoustic waves in diamond, demonstrating how mechanical energy thermalizes from picosecond to microsecond timescales. Bulk characterization techniques capable of resolving this level of structural detail have previously been available on millisecond time scales—orders of magnitude too slow to capture these fundamental phenomena in solid-state physics and geoscience. As such, the reported results provide broad insights into the interaction of acoustic waves with the structure of materials, and the availability of ultrafast time-resolved dark-field X-ray microscopy opens a vista of new opportunities for 3D imaging of materials dynamics on their intrinsic submicrosecond time scales.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1957

Reflection and Refraction of Acoustic Waves by a Shock Wave

The presence of sound waves in one or the other of the fluid regions on either side of a shock wave is made apparent, in the region under superpressure, by acoustic waves (reflected or refracted according to whether the incident waves lie in the region of superpressure or of subpressure) and by thermal waves. The characteristics of these waves are calculated for a plane, progressive, and uniform incident wave. In the case of refraction, the refracted acoustic wave can, according to the incidence, be plane, progressive, and uniform or take the form of an 'accompanying wave' which remains attached to the front of the shock while sliding parallel to it. In all cases, geometrical constructions permit determination of the kinematic characteristics of the reflected or refractive acoustic waves. The dynamic relationships show that the amplitude of the reflected wave is always less than that of the incident wave. The amplitude of the refracted wave, whatever its type, may in certain cases be greater than that of the incident wave.

Brillouin, J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Acoustic wave transmission through multilayer layer

Acoustic wave transmission through several media extended to infinity is studied by analyzing the factors influencing transmission, and by determining the conditions under which acoustic energy is transmitted integrally.

Salceanu, C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Reflection and transmission of acoustic waves from a moving layer

The refraction of acoustic waves by a moving medium layer is theoretically treated and the expressions for reflection and transmission coefficients are determined. The moving medium layer velocity is assumed to have a space dependence in one direction. A partitioning of the moving medium layer into constant-velocity sublayers is introduced and the number of sublayers is allowed to increase until the reflection and transmission coefficients converage to their respective values. Numerical results for several sublayer approximations of Poiseuille's flow are presented as functions of the moving layer velocity for several angles of incidence of the acoustic wave. The degenerate case of single constant-velocity layer is also treated, both theoretically and by a numerical analysis.

Steinmetz, G. G.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Generation and enhancement of surface acoustic waves on a highly doped p-type III-V semiconductor substrate

A device employing the generation and enhancement of surface acoustic waves on a highly doped p-type III-V semiconductor substrate (e.g., GaAs, GaSb, InAs, or InGaAs). The device includes two SiO 2 /ZnO islands, each including a SiO 2 buffer layer deposited on the doped p-type III-V semiconductor substrate and a ZnO layer deposited on the SiO 2 buffer layer. An input interdigital transducers (IDT) and an output IDT are each patterned on one of the SiO 2 /ZnO islands. The IDTs generates surface acoustic waves along an exposed surface of the highly doped p-type III-V semiconductor substrate. The surface acoustic waves improve the photoelectric and photovoltaic properties of the device. The device is manufactured using a disclosed technique for propagating strong surface acoustic waves on weak piezoelectric materials. Also disclosed is a photodetector developed using that technique.

Dong, Boqun↗