Surface acoustic waves at frequencies beyond a few GHz are promising components for quantum technology applications. Applying scanning X-ray diffraction microcopy we directly map the locally resolved components of the three-dimensional strain field generated by a standing surface acoustic wave on GaAs with wavelength λ≃500nm corresponding to frequencies near 6 GHz. We find that the lattice distortions perpendicular to the surface are phase-shifted compared to those in propagation direction. Model calculations based on Rayleigh waves confirm our measurements. Our results represent a break through in providing a full characterization of a radio frequency surface acoustic wave beyond plain imaging.
@article{arxiv.2209.13954,
title = {Scanning X-ray diffraction microscopy of a 6 GHz surface acoustic wave},
author = {M. Hanke and N. Ashurbekov and E. Zatterin and M. E. Msall and J. Hellemann and P. V. Santos and T. U. Schulli and S. Ludwig},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2209.13954},
year = {2023}
}