The surface barrier Rayleigh wave transducer

The electromechanical properties of the metal-dielectric contact have been studied theoretically and experimentally, and a transducer for Rayleigh wave generation and detection has been developed. This transducer introduces a new principle for excitation and detection of acoustic surface waves in dielectrics. Its properties have been studied with particular emphasis on nonpiezoelectric materials. Experiments are reported on KTaO3, SrTiO3, and BaTiO3. Experimental and theoretical investigations of photosensitivity were carried out. The acoustic intensity can be fully controlled by band-gap illumination. We propose that the mechanism studied here is responsible for the electroacoustic properties of many electrets.