title: Piezoelectric-based apparatus for strain tuning.
abstract: We report the design and construction of piezoelectric-based apparatus for applying continuously tuneable compressive and tensile strains to test samples. It can be used across a wide temperature range, including cryogenic temperatures. The achievable strain is large, so far up to 0.23% at cryogenic temperatures. The apparatus is compact and compatible with a wide variety of experimental probes. In addition, we present a method for mounting high-aspect-ratio samples in order to achieve high strain homogeneity.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Nöthnitzer Straße 40, Dresden 01187, Germany.
authors.forename: Clifford W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Nöthnitzer Straße 40, Dresden 01187, Germany.
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.affiliation: Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA), School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews KY16 9SS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Edkins
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Nöthnitzer Straße 40, Dresden 01187, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Brodsky
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Nöthnitzer Straße 40, Dresden 01187, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mackenzie