A piezoelectric single crystal traveling wave step motor for low-temperature application

A piezoelectric Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))O(3)-PbTiO(3) single crystal traveling wave rotary motor operated in a stepping motion for cryogenic actuations was developed and characterized. This single crystal stepping motor had a torque of >= 1.5 kg cm, an excess of 1800 steps per revolution about its axis, and a power consumption of <= 2 W by using a step motion with 25% duty cycle. We then show that this single crystal motor can successfully operate at 77 K (liquid nitrogen) under a load. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.