Magnetic-acoustic-resonator sensors (MARS): a new sensing methodology

A new type of acoustic shear wave sensor fabricated from inexpensive glass and metal plates, in which the acoustic plate is remotely excited and detec ted with a radio frequency signal and a strong magnetic field, is described . This new acoustic plate resonance requires neither piezoelectric material s nor win contacts, and is referred to as a magnetic-acoustic-resonator sen sor or MARS device. This paper reports the concept of the MARS device and d escribes how shear wave resonances in aluminium and aluminium-glass composi tes are detected and verified. The effect of moss loading an aluminised gla ss plate demonstrates that MARS has Sauerbrey-like characteristics similar to the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM). prospects for liquid phase measur ements are also indicated. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserv ed.