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

A piezoelectric Pb(Mg1∕3Nb2∕3)O3-PbTiO3 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 ⩾1.5kgcm, an excess of 1800 steps per revolution about its axis, and a power consumption of ≦2W by using a step motion with 25% duty cycle. We then show that this single crystal motor can successfully operate at 77K (liquid nitrogen) under a load.