Inexpensive, reliable control electronics for stick–slip motion in air and ultrahigh vacuum

In this paper we report on an inexpensive (under $100) and reliable electronic device that is used for stick–slip motion control in air and ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) devices. Though the high-voltage amplifier provides driving potentials of up to ±800 V, only a ±15 V power supply is needed. The versatile concept of stick–slip motion is based on variations of duration, slope, and repetition rate of a sawtooth pulse that drives the amplifiers. Our electronic device provides control of all these parameters. Thus the sawtooth output can easily be adapted to drive different devices. Application of this electronic will be demonstrated with four examples: (a) an x–y translation table; (b) a z-approach device working against gravity; (c) a φ rotation device; and (d) a ϑ–φ rotatory mirror device. All the devices are designed to run properly in both air and UHV.