Optical Measurement of Surface-Wave Scatter Losses in Piezoelectric Ceramics

Abstract
Direct experimental measurement of surface-wave scatter losses of several ceramics is reported, as well as verification of the fourth-power frequency dependence of scatter losses per wavelength predicted by Steg and Klemens. Laser measurements of surface-wave amplitude vs position exhibit interference due to scattered waves. The statistical analysis of such measurements allows separation of scatter losses from true dissipative losses. Scatter losses for Honeywell Type S material are found to be 0.027 dB/wavelength at 46.8 MHz, and increase with the fourth power of frequency. A limiting frequency for a given ceramic for surface-wave applications might be the frequency at which scatter losses overtake dissipative losses; for Honeywell S, this occurs at 73 MHz.

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