Direct imaging of travelling Rayleigh waves by stroboscopic X-ray topography

Experiments are reported in which Rayleigh waves travelling on the surface of a piezoelectric crystal were imaged by stroboscopic X-ray topography, the generation of the waves being synchronized with X rays emitted by the orbiting electrons in the storage ring of the SRS. Interactions between the Rayleigh waves and microscopic crystalline defects were observed, providing new insights into the factors affecting surface acoustic wave device operation, and demonstrating that this technique has considerable potential for the study of periodic phenomena in crystals. (U.K.)