A low-frequency, high-amplitude, torsional oscillator for turbulence studies in quantum fluids

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel torsional oscillator designed for quantum fluid turbulence studies, capable of high velocities and large amplitudes at low frequencies, with a new geometry and initial performance results.

Contribution

The paper presents a new oscillator design that overcomes limitations of conventional devices, enabling turbulence studies in quantum fluids at low frequencies with high amplitudes.

Findings

Oscillator operates at ~100 Hz with high velocities

Achieves amplitudes exceeding 100 μm

Initial performance tests are promising

Abstract

We describe a new type of torsional oscillator, suitable for studies of quantum fluids at frequencies of $\sim$ $100$ Hz, but capable of reaching high velocities of up to several cm\,s$^{-1}$. This requires the oscillator amplitude to exceed $100$ $\mu m$, which is much too large for a conventional capacitor-driven device. We describe the new geometry for the oscillator, discuss its design, and report our initial tests of its performance.