Developing compact tuning fork thermometers for sub-mK temperatures and high magnetic fields

TL;DR

This paper introduces scalable quartz tuning fork thermometers designed for ultra-low temperatures below 1 mK and high magnetic fields, enabling precise thermal measurements on small samples in challenging conditions.

Contribution

It presents a novel design and modeling approach for compact, fast thermometers based on quartz tuning forks suitable for ultra-low temperature and high magnetic field environments.

Findings

Successful operation of the thermometers at sub-mK temperatures.

Improved hydrodynamic models for high viscosity regimes.

Feasibility of fast, compact thermal probes for small samples.

Abstract

There is a growing demand for experiments on calorimetric and thermal transport measurements at ultra-low temperatures below 1 mK and high magnetic fields up to 16 T. Particularly, milligram-sized solid samples are of great interest. We present the development of scalable thermometers based on quartz tuning fork resonators immersed in liquid 3He and adapt hydrodynamic models to provide an improved description of temperature dependence in the high viscosity regime between 1 and 10 mK. We demonstrate successful thermometer operation and discuss the feasibility of fast and compact thermal probes suitable for small samples.