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Atomic-Scale Time and Space Resolution of Terahertz Frequency Acoustic Waves

Evan J. Reed, Michael R. Armstrong, Ki-Yong Kim, and James H. Glownia
Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 014302 – Published 3 July 2008
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Abstract

Using molecular dynamics simulations and analytics, we find that strain waves of terahertz frequencies can coherently generate radiation when they propagate past an interface between materials with different piezoelectric coefficients. By considering AlN/GaN heterostructures, we show that the radiation is of detectable amplitude and contains sufficient information to determine the time dependence of the strain wave with potentially subpicosecond, nearly atomic time and space resolution. We demonstrate this phenomenon within the context of high amplitude terahertz frequency strain waves that spontaneously form at the front of shock waves in GaN crystals.

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  • Received 17 July 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.014302

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Evan J. Reed* and Michael R. Armstrong

  • Chemistry, Materials, and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA

Ki-Yong Kim and James H. Glownia

  • Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA

  • *reed23@llnl.gov

See Also

Hearing the Highest Pitches

David Lindley
Phys. Rev. Focus 22, 2 (2008)

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Issue

Vol. 101, Iss. 1 — 4 July 2008

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