Humphrey J. Maris
Dept. of Phys., Brown Univ., Providence, RI 02912
Experiments are described in which the techniques of picosecond optics are used to generate and detect ultrasonic waves at frequencies as high as 500 GHz. The method also provides exceptionally good spatial and temporal resolution, thereby making possible pulse-echo acoustic measurements on a broad range of nanostructures of current technical interest. Examples will be given of results that have been obtained by this approach, and possible future developments will be discussed.