Transducer and multistrip-coupler performance for leaky surface waves on lithium niobate

Measurements are reported of the properties of leaky surface waves propagating on 41° and 64° rotated cuts of LiNbO3 both on the free surface and under metal. Transducer and multistrip-coupler performance are consistent with piezo electric-coupling constants of 18° and 12%, respectively. Insertion-loss and spurious-signal-level results show that the interdigital transducer with few finger pairs is better matched to a metallised propagation path than to a free surface path for leaky waves.