SAW Devices - A Comprehensive Review

Surface Acoustic Waves (SAWs) are elastic waves travelling along the surface of solid piezoelectric materials with amplitude that decays exponentially with depth. Using an Interdigital Transducer (IDT), these waves can be demonstrated and reproduced in the laboratory in devices called SAW devices. Such devices find many applications as delay lines, filters, resonators and sensors. The present paper provides a snapshot review and description of the functioning, operation and latest technical advancements seen in these devices over the period from 2003-2012. For improvement in design, development, fabrication and characterization of these devices, computational modeling plays a prominent and pivotal role. Employing unique custom made software algorithms based on well established principles of physics, these devices are accurately modeled and simulated and a short review and description of the strategy adopted for the same is also provided.