Good Vibrations: Probing & Controlling Matter via Surface Acoustic Waves

Surface Acoustic Waves (SAWs) are directed phonon modes whose amplitude, wavelength, andfrequency can be precisely controlled via nanofabrication techniques. From transportmeasurements in 2D quantum materials to optical spectroscopy, SAWs represent a tool forexploring and manipulating light-matter-phonon coupling in low-dimensional condensed mattersystems.This talk will introduce the fundamental concept of SAW generation and propagation,highlighting how piezoelectric transduction enables coherent phonon control. We will showcaseopportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across the Max Planck Institute for the Structureand Dynamics of Matter, where SAW technology bridges multiple experimental domains:modeling phonon-driven dynamics and strain-engineered band structures, optical spectroscopyof SAW-induced modulation in 2D materials, and tailored microfabrication for ultra-shortwavelength devices.