Piezoelectric resonator arrays for tunable acoustic waveguides and metamaterials

TLDR

One of the outstanding challenges in phononic crystals and acoustic metamaterials development is the ability to tune their performance without requiring structural modifications. The study demonstrates a tunable acoustic waveguide embedded in a two‑dimensional phononic plate. The waveguide employs a periodic array of piezoelectric transducers shunted by passive inductive circuits. Resonant shunts produce strong attenuation and negative group velocities at inductance‑defined frequencies, demonstrating a controllable acoustic logic port and tunable dispersion.

Abstract

One of the outstanding challenges in phononic crystals and acoustic metamaterials development is the ability to tune their performance without requiring structural modifications. We report on the experimental demonstration of a tunable acoustic waveguide implemented within a two-dimensional phononic plate. The waveguide is equipped with a periodic array of piezoelectric transducers which are shunted through passive inductive circuits. The resonance characteristics of the shunts lead to strong attenuation and to negative group velocities at frequencies defined by the circuits' inductance. The proposed waveguide illustrates the concept of a controllable acoustic logic port or of an acoustic metamaterial with tunable dispersion characteristics.