Abstract

Waves propagating along a perfectly conducting plane embedded in a piezoelectric medium are investigated. A numerical analysis of langasite and dilithium tetraborate shows that such waves exist for many orientations of the conducting plane with respect to the crystallographic axes, and for many directions of propagation. The wave velocity is close to that of the slowest bulk wave for the same direction, and the piezoelectric coupling coefficient can be as high as 1.65% for dilithium tetraborate and 0.25% for langasite. The conditions of existence, and the properties of the piezoelectric interfacial wave (PIW ) are presented in the form of tables and symbolic maps. Expected applications are discussed.

Figures

Fig. 1. Maps of PIW properties for dilithium tetraborate.

Fig. 2. Maps of PIW properties for langasite.