High resolution miniature dilatometer based on AFM piezocantilever

TL;DR

This paper introduces a highly sensitive, compact dilatometer based on AFM piezoresistive cantilever technology, capable of measuring thermal expansion in extreme environments with high precision.

Contribution

The authors developed a miniature AFM-based dilatometer that functions effectively in high magnetic fields and low temperatures, expanding capabilities for material property measurements.

Findings

Performance comparable to titanium capacitive dilatometers

Successfully measured charge density waves in alpha uranium at 31 T

Demonstrated versatility in confined and extreme environments

Abstract

Thermal expansion, or dilation, is closely related to the specific heat, and provides useful information regarding material properties. The accurate measurement of dilation in confined spaces coupled with other limiting experimental environments such as low temperatures and rapidly changing high magnetic fields requires a new sensitive millimeter size dilatometer that has little or no temperature and field dependence. We have designed an ultra compact dilatometer using an atomic force microscope (AFM) piezoresistive cantilever as the sensing element and demonstrated its versatility by studying the charge density waves (CDWs) in alpha uranium to high magnetic fields (up to 31 T). The performance of this piezoresistive dilatometer was comparable to that of a titanium capacitive dilatometer.