A Study of SAW Delay Line Behavior in Liquids

SAW delay line oscillators designed for operation at 10, 30, 31, and 50 MHz have been used to study the role of liquid loading on Rayleigh surface wave propagation. Experimental data clearly show that the dominant mode of energy transport in thin, liquid loaded SAW devices is not due to Rayleigh waves. These results have important implications for the design of SAW chemical sensors intended for operation in solutions.