Definition
Surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices are widely used for frequency filtering in mobile communications [1]. Recently published works [2–10] have demonstrated the use of SAWs to manipulate liquid flow in microfluidic devices. A SAW is excited by the application of a radiofrequency (rf) signal to an interdigital transducer (IDT) on a piezoelectric substrate such as quartz or LiNbO3. The wavelength of the SAW, having a typical value of a few micrometers, is determined by the geometry of the IDT. The amplitudes of the SAW are typically about a nanometer, depending on the applied rf power. As a SAW propagates on the surface of a piezoelectric solid, any viscous materials such as liquids located at the solid surface will absorb most of its energy, which is indicated by an exponentially decaying amplitude. The interaction between the SAW and the liquid creates an acoustic radiation pressure (ARP) in the direction...
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Gao, Y., Li, D. (2014). Flow by Surface Acoustic Waves. In: Li, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Microfluidics and Nanofluidics. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27758-0_559-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27758-0_559-2
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Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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