| Abstract: | A Love wave sensor uses a single-phase unidirectional interdigital
transducer (IDT) on a piezoelectric substrate for leaky surface acoustic
wave generation. The IDT design minimizes propagation losses, bulk wave
interferences, provides a highly linear phase response, and eliminates
the need for impedance matching. As an example, a high frequency
(.about.300-400 MHz) surface acoustic wave (SAW) transducer enables
efficient excitation of shear-horizontal waves on 36.degree. Y-cut
lithium tantalate (LTO) giving a highly linear phase response
(2.8.degree. P-P). The sensor has the ability to detect at the
pg/mm.sup.2 level and can perform multi-analyte detection in real-time.
The sensor can be used for rapid autonomous detection of pathogenic
microorganisms and bioagents by field deployable platforms. |