title: Spatiotemporal mapping of surface acoustic waves in isotropic and anisotropic materials.
abstract: We demonstrate a new method for a real-time imaging of surface acoustic waves at frequencies up to 1 GHz with picosecond temporal and micron spatial resolutions using an ultrafast optical pump and probe technique combined with a common path interferometer. Using samples with isotropic or anisotropic substrates coated with metallic thin films, we observe the propagation of Rayleigh-like modes and surface-skimming bulk modes as well as resolving surface phonon focusing effects. In addition we image surface acoustic wave propagation in a laterally inhomogeneous sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. assp@kino-ap.eng.hokudai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Gusev