Variable path cryogenic acoustic interferometer

We describe a variable path acoustic interferometer for use at cryogenic temperatures. Movement is enabled without mechanical coupling via two piezoelectric bimorphs wired and mounted in a manner that preserves the parallelism of two ultrasonic transducers that define the acoustic path. A certain degree of in situ alignment can also be accomplished. Path length sweeps from 0 to 180 μm have been made at cryogenic temperatures and preliminary sound velocity measurements in liquid ⁴He and gaseous ³He near 4 K are presented which agree well with past measurements.