Photoelectrically automated, bakeable, high-load ultramicrobalance

An all quartz pivotal-beam ultramicrobalance has been modified for operation as a null instrument using a dual-path photoelectric detector. The beam and newly designed stainless steel beam support have been adapted to a stainless steel enclosure for studies in uhv. A thin quartz disk, with a 600-A thick Au film for partially blocking the light path, is fused to each end of the beam. An electronic circuit minimizes the signal from the detector when the balance moves from the null by providing a current output to a magnetic compensation coil. The capacity (up to 20 g), the stability of the null reading (over six months), and the unusually high load to precision ratio (1--2x108) of the balance have been maintained with the modification. Sensibilities of 0.03--0.1 μg with 4--10-g loads have been obtained with the balance, which is now completely adapted for UHV operation