Actuation via magnetic torque driven deformation

1. A method comprising:

retaining, at an anchor, a first end of an actuation member, wherein a length of the actuation member is greater than a width of the actuation member and the length extends from the first end of the actuation member to a second end of the actuation member along a longitudinal axis when the actuation member is undeformed, and wherein the actuation member comprises a magnetic shape memory alloy;

deforming the actuation member with a magnetic field, wherein a crystallographic orientation of the actuation member relative to the magnetic field causes the second end of the actuation member to move laterally to the longitudinal axis; and

altering, at a magnetic field source, the magnetic field applied to the actuation member to alter the deformation of the actuation member.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving an object by applying a force to the object with the deformation of the actuation member.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a force caused by the deformation of the actuation member to a fluid to invoke movement of a body connected to the anchor through the fluid.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein altering the magnetic field applied to the actuation member further comprises setting the magnetic field to a predetermined magnitude that results in a predetermined deformation of the actuation member.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein altering the magnetic field applied to the actuation member further comprises setting the magnetic field to a predetermined direction that results in a predetermined deformation of the actuation member.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined deformation results in a predetermined angle of the actuation member at the second end relative to the longitudinal axis.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a lateral stroke value associated with the actuation member is greater than at least 10% compared to the length of the actuation member.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a work output of the deformation is based on a shape anisotropy of the actuation member.

9. A system comprising:

an actuation member having a first end and a second end, wherein a length of the actuation member is greater than a width of the actuation member and the length extends from the first end to the second end along a longitudinal axis when the actuation member is undeformed, and wherein the actuation member comprises a magnetic shape memory alloy;

an anchor retaining the first end of the actuation member, wherein the second end of the actuation member is free to move laterally to the longitudinal axis in response to a deformation of the actuation member; and

a magnetic field source in proximity to the actuation member, the magnetic field source configurable to alter a magnetic field applied to the actuation member to adjust the extent of deformation of the actuation member, wherein a crystallographic orientation of the actuation member relative to the magnetic field causes the deformation of the actuation member.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the actuation member is a cylindrical wire.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the deformation of the actuation member is caused at least partially due to crystallographic twinning.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the magnetic shape memory alloy includes a Nickel-Manganese-Gallium alloy.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the magnetic shape memory alloy is martensitic at or below a standard operating temperature.

14. The system of claim 13 where the standard operating temperature is room temperature and below 25° C.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the magnetic shape memory alloy is austenitic at or above a threshold temperature above a standard operating temperature.

16. The system of claim 15 where the threshold temperature is about 10 or more degrees higher than the standard operation temperature.

17. The system of claim 9 , wherein the magnetic shape memory alloy has a Curie temperature of about 82° C.

18. The system of claim 9 , incorporated into at least one device selected from the group consisting of micro-actuators, sensors, magnetic cooling systems, and energy harvesting devices.

19. A method comprising:

forming an actuation member having a first end and a second end, wherein a length of the actuation member is greater than a width of the actuation member and the length extends from the first end to the second end along a longitudinal axis when the actuation member is undeformed, and wherein the actuation member is formed from a magnetic shape memory alloy;

connecting the first end of the actuation member to an anchor, wherein the anchor retains the first end of the actuation member while the second end of the actuation member is free to move laterally to the longitudinal axis in response to deformation of the actuation member; and

positioning the actuation member in proximity to a magnetic field source, the magnetic field source configurable to alter a magnetic field applied to the actuation member to adjust the extent of deformation of the actuation member, wherein a crystallographic orientation of the actuation member relative to the magnetic field causes the deformation of the actuation member.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein forming the actuation member comprises:

forming a microwire through melt spinning.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein forming the actuation member comprises:

induction melting precursor rods to form an alloy melt; and

drawing a glass-coated microwire from the alloy melt.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein forming the actuation member comprises:

forming a Nickel-Manganese-Gallium microwire.