Levitating Precision Positioner

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Precision positioning is a challenging engineering field. Especially in cryogenic environments, where contact between parts tend to limit the lifetime, accuracy and stroke of positioners. Together with the extremely low temperatures and typically high vacuum levels, power dissipation, wear, cold welding or the lack of options for effective lubrication are some of the main concerns to aerospace engineers. In this thesis, the authors propose an innovative solution based in superconducting magnetic levitation. A long-stroke linear slider composed of a permanent magnet carrying an optic cube is able to stably levitate over high-temperature superconductors. Electromagnets, designed for an optimum actuation on the slider, control the slider without contact between moving parts and with unprecedented resolution to superconducting positioners. In addition, the mechanism exhibits self-stability, not requiring complex control electronics. Its power consumption is minimized, which makes a potential tool for applications in cryogenic environments such us for far infrared interferometry in satellites, used to analyze the composition of stars, galaxies and extrasolar planets