Elastic Waves in Solids II: Generation, Acousto-optic Interaction, Applications

Elastic waves possess some remarkable properties and it is these that explain their important role in the processing of electronic signals and the sensing of physical quantities. For example, they can be generated by localized or distributed sources, can propagate in the core or on the surface of optically transparent or opaque solids, have velocities one hundred thousand times less than those of electromagnetic waves, and they can modify the characteristics of a light beam. The purpose of this second volume is to illustrate the functions fulfilled by the free and guided waves described in Vol. I. It deals with the generation of bulk waves using piezoelectric resonators, generation of surface waves by interdigital transducers, interaction between elastic waves and light waves, acousto-electronic filters, acousto-optic components, sensors and instruments.