Hybridization of backward acoustic waves in piezoelectric plates

Abstract

The phenomenon of hybridization of the backward acoustic waves propagating in a piezoelectric crystal plate has been studied. In an electrically free plate (in particular, of potassium niobate) with a crystal orientation for which a sagittal plane is the symmetry plane, the dispersion curves of backward acoustic waves exhibit points of intersection and hybridization is absent. However, for a small change in the direction of wave propagation, the dispersion curves exhibit “repulsion” and the waves become coupled. The degree of hybridization is quantitatively evaluated in terms of the hybridization coefficient, which is defined as the ratio of the total mutual energy density and the total energy density of the interacting waves. It is demonstrated that the extent of repulsion of the dispersion curves for the interacting waves is determined by the dependence of the hybridization coefficient on the product of the plate thickness and the wave frequency.