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Calibration of piezoelectric bimorphs for experiments in a surface forces apparatus

Journal Article · · Review of Scientific Instruments
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1288233· OSTI ID:40204896
A simple interferometric method is described to measure the time-dependent deformation of piezoelectric bimorphs driven by ac voltage. Applying this method to a bimorph assembly used to measure viscoelastic forces in a surface forces apparatus, we find that a sinusoidal-shaped harmonic drive voltage generates sinusoidal deformation but that a triangular-shaped harmonic drive voltage fails to produce triangular-shaped deformation if the drive frequency exceeds 1/100 of the resonance frequency. Sinusoidal displacement amplitudes as small as 0.1 nm were resolved.
Sponsoring Organization:
(US)
OSTI ID:
40204896
Journal Information:
Review of Scientific Instruments, Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 71; ISSN 0034-6748
Publisher:
The American Physical Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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