Operation characteristics of piezoelectric quartz tuning forks in high magnetic fields at liquid helium temperatures

TL;DR

This study explores the mechanical and operational characteristics of piezoelectric quartz tuning forks at cryogenic temperatures and high magnetic fields, assessing their suitability as force sensors in low-temperature scanning probe microscopy.

Contribution

It provides detailed analysis of quartz tuning forks' performance in high magnetic fields and at liquid helium temperatures, including their mechanical properties and force sensing capabilities.

Findings

Quartz tuning forks maintain functionality at 1.5 K and 8 T.

Mechanical properties are accurately characterized via admittance and interferometry.

Force-distance measurements demonstrate effective low-temperature sensing.

Abstract

Piezoelectric quartz tuning forks are investigated in view of their use as force sensors in dynamic mode scanning probe microscopy at temperatures down to 1.5 K and in magnetic fields up to 8 T. The mechanical properties of the forks are extracted from the frequency dependent admittance and simultaneous interferometric measurements. The performance of the forks in a cryogenic environment is investigated. Force-distance studies performed with these sensors at low temperatures are presented.