The design of surface acoustic waves field for manipulation of particles in microfluidics

Manipulation of particles and cells is fundamental to numerous biological, chemical and industrial processes. Surface acoustic waves (SAW) provide a promising tool for a powerful, yet gentle manipulation. The newness of this technology, however, means that many advantages, made feasible by SAW, are still waiting for full realisation. The scope of this thesis has been to explore the physical principles that underline SAW-driven systems with a focus on particle manipulation.