title: Theory and experiments on elastic band gaps
abstract: We study elastic band gaps in nonhomogeneous periodic finite media. The finite-difference time-domain method is used for the first time in the field of elastic band-gap materials. It is used to interpret experimental data for two-dimensional systems consisting of cylinders of fluids (Hg, air, and oil) inserted periodically in a finite slab of aluminum host. The method provides good convergence, can be applied to realistic finite composite slabs, even to composites with a huge contrast in the elastic parameters of their components, and describes well the experiments.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisica de Sistemas Pequenos y Nanotecnologia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Serrano 144, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garcia-Pablos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sigalas
authors.lastname: Montero De Espinosa FR
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kafesaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garcia