Oxford Instruments Nanotechnology Tools Limited

Anthony Matthews

Mark Patton

Robin Brzakalik

Linshu Jiang

Timothy Poole

Chris Wilkinson

Matthew Martin

Vladimir Mikheev

Christopher Wilkinson

Jeremy White

Tim Foster

Par G Teleberg

Graham Batey

Par Gustav Teleberg

Justin Elford

Timothy Foster

Gustav Teleberg

Pär Gustav Teleberg

A cryogenic cooling system is provided comprising a cryogenic refrigerator assembly and two or more connected modules. The cryogenic refrigerator assembly comprises one or more cryogenic refrigerators. Each said connected module comprises: a housing defining an internal volume for the module, the housing having a plurality of side faces, and a plurality of stages arranged within the internal volume for the module, wherein one or more of the plurality of stages is thermally coupled to the cryogenic refrigerator assembly. The two or more said modules are mutually connected at respective side faces, and a first said stage of a first said module is thermally coupled to a first said stage of a second said module.

Cryogenic cooling system

A cryogenic cooling system that includes a cooled plate thermally coupled to a cryogenic refrigerator, a target assembly that includes a target refrigerator configured to achieve a lower base temperature than the cryogenic refrigerator, and a heat switch assembly with one or more gas gap heat switches. The heat switch assembly has a first end thermally coupled to the cooled plate and a second end thermally coupled to the target assembly. A sorption pump is configured to control thermal conductivity across the heat switch assembly based on the temperature of the sorption pump. The sorption pump is thermally coupled to the cryogenic refrigerator by a thermal link extending from the cooled plate to the heat switch assembly, with the sorption pump positioned along the thermal link between the cooled plate and the heat switch assembly.

Gas gap heat switch configuration

There is provided a method of reducing noise in a cryogenic cooling system associated with a mechanical refrigerator forming part of said cooling system. The method comprises: monitoring vibrations in the cooling system during operation of the mechanical refrigerator; and modulating an operating frequency of the mechanical refrigerator based on the monitored vibrations so as to reduce the amplitude of said vibrations. This allows noise within the cooling system to be reduced.

Noise reduction method

A cryogenic cooling system is provided comprising: a mechanical refrigerator, a heat pipe and a heat switch assembly. The mechanical refrigerator has a first cooled stage and a second cooled stage. The heat pipe has a first part coupled thermally to the second cooled stage and a second part coupled thermally to a target assembly. The heat pipe is adapted to contain a condensable gaseous coolant when in use. The heat switch assembly comprises one or more gas gap heat switches, a first end coupled thermally to the second cooled stage and a second end coupled thermally to the target assembly. The cryogenic cooling system is adapted to be operated in a heat pipe cooling mode in which the temperature of the second cooled stage is lower than the first cooled stage and wherein the temperature of the target assembly causes the coolant within the second part of the heat pipe to be gaseous and the temperature of the second cooled stage causes the coolant in the first part of the heat pipe to condense. The target assembly is cooled by the movement of the condensed liquid coolant from the first part of the heat pipe to the second part of the heat pipe during the heat pipe cooling mode. The cryogenic cooling system is further adapted to be operated in a gas gap cooling mode in which the temperature of the second cooled stage causes freezing of the coolant. The heat switch assembly is adapted to provide cooling from the second cooled stage to the target assembly during the gas gap cooling mode via the one or more gas gap heat switches.

A cryogenic cooling system is provided comprising a first stage, a second stage, and a third stage, wherein the second stageis arranged between the first stageand the third stage. A first dilution unitis provided comprising a first stilland a first mixing chamber, wherein the first stillis thermally coupled to the first stageand the first mixing chamberis thermally coupled to the third stage. A second dilution unitis further provided comprising a second stilland a second mixing chamber, wherein the second stillis thermally coupled to the first stageand the second mixing chamberis thermally coupled to the second stage

A method for forming a gas gap heat switch is provided comprising the following steps: (a) providing first and second conductors, and first and second connecting members, wherein the connecting members each have a thermal conductivity at least five times smaller than that of the conductors when at a temperature of 100K; (b) fusing the first conductor to the first connecting member and the second conductor to the second connecting member; (c) aligning the conductors such that the first and second conductors extend along a common major axis; (d) bringing proximal ends of the aligned conductors into contact with each other when said conductors are at a first temperature; and (e) joining the first connecting member to the second connecting member so as to form a chamber around at least the proximal ends of the conductors.

Method of forming a heat switch

A method is provided of operating a cryogenic cooling system, in which a target region for receiving a sample is cooled by a dilution refrigerator containing an operational fluid. Firstly any operational fluid is removed from the dilution refrigerator. Target apparatus comprising the sample is loaded from a high temperature location to the target region. The target apparatus is then pre-cooled in the target region to a first temperature using a mechanical refrigerator. The operational fluid is then supplied to the dilution refrigerator and the dilution refrigerator operated so as to cool the target apparatus in the target location to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. A suitable system for performing the method is also disclosed.

Cryogenic cooling apparatus and method

Cooling apparatus is provided which comprises a mechanical refrigerator and a heat pipe. The mechanical refrigerator has a first cooled stage and a second cooled stage, the second cooled stage being adapted to be coupled thermally with target apparatus to be cooled. The heat pipe has a first part coupled thermally to the first stage of the mechanical refrigerator and a second part coupled thermally to a cooled member which may comprise the second stage of the mechanical refrigerator. The heat pipe is adapted to contain a condensable gaseous coolant when in use. An example coolant is Krypton. The apparatus is operated in a first cooling mode in which the temperature of the cooled member causes the coolant within the second part of the heat pipe to be gaseous and the temperature of the first stage causes the coolant in the first part to condense, whereby the cooled member is cooled by the movement of the condensed liquid from the first part to the second part of the heat pipe. When the cooled member is the second stage of the mechanical refrigerator, the heat pipe provides heat between the higher and lower temperature cooled stages during cooling. An associated method of operating such apparatus is also described.

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Didcot, United Kingdom

Anthony Matthews