Oxford Instruments Nanotechnology Tools Limited

Mark Patton

Anthony Matthews

Jeremy White

Anthony J Matthews

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.

Cryogenic cooling system

A cryogenic cooling system can include a cooling device and a sample holder. The system can also include a first optical member having a first aperture and a first collimator, where the first collimator is positioned to collimate the light. The system can further include a second optical member having a second aperture and a second collimator where the second collimator is positioned to collimate the light, the first optical member being mounted to the cooling device and the second optical member being mounted to the sample holder. When the sample holder is mounted to the cooling device, a relative position of the first optical member and the second optical member allows the light to pass between the first and second apertures via the first collimator and second collimator separated by a physical gap to allow optical communication between the first optical member and the second optical member.

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Abingdon Oxon, United Kingdom

Mark Patton