Piezoelectric rotator for studying quantum effects in semiconductor nanostructures at high magnetic fields and low temperatures

We report the design and development of a piezoelectric sample rotation system, and its integration into an Oxford Instruments Kelvinox 100 dilution refrigerator, for orientation-dependent studies of quantum transport in semiconductor nanodevices at millikelvin temperatures in magnetic fields up to 10 T. Our apparatus allows for continuous in situ rotation of a device through > 100 degrees in two possible configurations. The first enables rotation of the field within the plane of the device, and the second allows the field to be rotated from in-plane to perpendicular to the device plane. An integrated angle sensor coupled with a closed-loop feedback system allows the device orientation to be known to within (+)0.03 degrees while maintaining the sample temperature below 100 mK. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3502645]