title: Semiconductor superlattices: a tool for terahertz acoustics.
abstract: The properties of optical to acoustic transduction of semiconductor superlattices have been explored for several years in the sub terahertz frequency range. Using femtosecond laser pulses focused on these structures, acoustic modes are excited with a frequency related to the periodicity of the structure stacking. We have shown that these acoustic waves can be extracted and can propagate in the underlying substrate. We study superlattices ability to be quasi monochromatic generators. On the other hand, superlattices have been found to be very sensitive and selective detectors. We present a set of experimental results concerning the generation, propagation over large distances and detection of acoustic waves at high frequencies, up to the challenging 1 THz by picosecond ultrasonics experiments in transmission geometry.
authors.affiliation: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7588, Institut des Nanosciences de Paris, F-75005 Paris, France. Electronic address: agnes.huynh@insp.jussieu.fr.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.affiliation: CNRS, UMR 7588, Institut des Nanosciences de Paris, F-75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.affiliation: CNRS, UPR 20, Laboratoire de Photonique et de Nanostructures Route de Nozay, 91460 Marcoussis, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lemaître
keywords: Acoustic phonons; Phonon propagation; Picosecond ultrasonics; Semiconductor superlattice; Ultrafast acoustics