New Fascinating Properties and Potential Applications of Love Surface Waves

In this work we present a general analysis of the extraordinary properties of surface Love waves and the unexpected wave phenomena that can occur in the Love wave waveguides. A brief history of the Love waves and their applications to Love wave sensors is given. The results of the author's recent research on Love wave sensors are presented. The analytical formula for the mass sensitivity of the Love wave sensor is shown. Extraordinary properties that reveal Love waves propagating in lossy media are introduced. Counterintuitive phenomena in Love wave waveguides such as: a) minimum of phase velocity as a function of liquid viscosity and b) maximum of attenuation as a function of liquid viscosity are reported. Moreover, the application of new mathematical tools in the analysis of Love wave sensors such as: Inverse Methods is discussed. New possible directions for research on Love wave sensors have been indicated.