Glossary
environmental options
Temperature Range
ambient
Minimum Pressure
at Room Temperature
1e-8 mbar
5e-11 mbar
0 .. 100 °C /RT /HV /UHV
1 K - 300 K /LT /LT/HV /LT/UHV
< 1 K /ULT /ULT/HV /ULT/UHV
Temperature
All attocube positioners can be used in a temperature range of
0°C to 100°C in a non-condensing environment. For tempera-
tures lower than this range special versions (/LT, /ULT) are avai-
lable, see below. Due to the intrinsic nature of the semiconduc-
tors used in our precise optoelectronic encoder the /NUM sensor
readout will only work up to an encoder temperature of 55°C.
Low Temperature /LT
As a standard, all Premium Line positioners are manufactured
from non-magnetic materials such as highly pure titanium
(grade 2) and ceramics. /LT means that the materials used
are suitable for repeated cooling and operation in cryogenic
temperatures of less than 10 mK. Before shipping, they are
tested at 4 K. They can work in a vacuum that is generated due
to cryopumping. The vacuum before cooling down should not
be lower than 1E-4 mbar. Otherwise combined versions (/LT/HV
and /LT/UHV) are available.
Ultra Low Temperature /ULT
Titanium which is used with the Premium Line positioners gets
superconducting at about 400 mK. For highly sophisticated
measurements going beyond this temperature attocube
offers the /ULT version of Premium Line positioners. These
positioners come with a special resistive sensor and are made
from copper beryllium (CuBe) instead of titanium.
Room Temperature /RT
/RT positioners are manufactured for use at ambient conditions
(room temperature, dry atmosphere, ambient pressure). If not
stated otherwise specifications listed are measured under
ambient conditions.
All attocube positioners are tested at room temperature before
delivery. Depending on the ordered version additional tests at 4K or
inside our vacuum chamber will be performed prior to shipment.
High Vacuum /HV
At attocube the high vacuum range is specified down to 1E-8 mBar.
The materials used are stainless steel in case of the Industrial Line
positioners and titanium for the Premium Line positioners. All /HV
positioners will be tested prior to shipping to provide most reliable
motion in high vacuum.
Ultra High Vacuum /UHV
/UHV means that the materials used are compatible with UHV speci-
fications. These positioners can be baked out up to 150 °C. A test in
a baked UHV environment is performed to guarantee full functionality
usually down to 5E-11 mBar. A few rotators and goniometers use
UHV compatible grease. Due to the increased outgassing of these
types at elevated temperatures we specify them for 10E-9 mBar as a
precaution (noted in specification sheets).
Magnetic Field
All of attocube’s Premium Line positioners are built of completely
non-magnetic materials such as titanium and ceramics. They can
therefore be used in environments sensitive to magnetic materials,
close to electron or other charged particle beams. They are especial-
ly dedicated for the use in high magnetic fields (currently maximum
tested field: 31 T). /NUM(+) encoded positioners are specified for
a maximum outer magnetic field of 7 T. Industrial Line positioners
are not suitable for experimentation in magnetic fields due to their
stainless steel bearings.