1991 and beyond: the current status and future trends for SAW in Europe

The initial surface acoustic wave (SAW) research work in Europe concentrated on military applications in radar. The approach of 1992 has subtly changed attitudes and there is a growing awareness that the SAW market is international. The emergence of major applications in the field of security and telecommunications with their demands for low loss, high frequency of operation, and high rejection has led to significant efforts to understand loss mechanisms, fabrication requirements, and spurious signals. The work of groups in Germany, France, Switzerland, and the UK is summarized, and that of groups in Norway, Poland, Holland, and the USSR is discussed. In all cases, both basic research activities and technical and manufacturing capabilities are analyzed. It is noted that European SAW activity, is seeing a major resurgence, and it is predicted that 1992 will see a strong market