Optimization of the working fluid for a sorption-based Joule–Thomson cooler

Sorption-based Joule–Thomson coolers operate vibration-free, have a potentially long life time, and cause no electromagnetic interference. Therefore, they are appealing to a wide variety of applications, such as cooling of low-noise amplifiers, superconducting electronics, and optical detectors. The required cooling temperature depends on the device to be cooled and extends into the cryogenic range well below 80 K. This paper presents a generalized methodology for optimization in a sorption-based JT cooler. The analysis is based on the inherent properties of the fluids and the adsorbent. By using this method, the working fluid of a JT cooler driven by a single-stage sorption compressor is optimized for two ranges of cold-tip operating temperatures: 65–160 K and 16–38 K. The optimization method is also extended to two-stage compression and specifically nitrogen and carbon monoxide are considered.     

Lifetime test and heritage on orbit of coolers for space use

This report describes the results and operating status of ground lifetime testing and achievements on orbit of coolers for space use. Ground lifetime tests of coolers of three types were conducted to demonstrate their long life and reliability. Three single-stage Stirling coolers were tested for 89,016, 71,871 and 68,273 h from 1998, a two-stage Stirling cooler was tested for 72,906 h, and a 4-K class cooler with a two-stage Stirling cooler and a Joule–Thomson cooler was tested for over 2.5 years. After lifetime tests were completed, a few coolers were investigated to determine the cause of the cooling performance degradation. Additionally, the filled gas of the coolers was analyzed. These coolers have shown good results on orbit. Three single-stage Stirling coolers were carried on the X-ray astronomical satellite “SUZAKU” (launched in July 2005), Japanese lunar polar orbiter “KAGUYA” (launched in September 2007), and the Japanese Venus Climate Orbiter “AKATSUKI” (launched in June 2010). Two units of a two-stage Stirling cooler were carried on the infrared astronomical satellite “AKARI” launched in February 2006. A 4-K class cooler was carried on the Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES) aboard the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) of the International Space Station (ISS). SMILES was launched in September 2009.     

Performance of Stirling-type non-magnetic and non-metallic co-axial pulse tube cryocoolers for high-Tc SQUIDs operation

A set of Stirling-type non-magnetic and non-metallic co-axial pulse tube cryocoolers, intended to achieve portable cryogen-free systems with very low interference for high-T_c SQUIDs operation, have been designed and tested in TIPC/CAS. The key feature is that all cooler components in the vicinity of SQUIDs pick-up loops are made of non-magnetic and non-metallic materials, in order to eliminate complicated interference and realize direct couple with SQUIDs. The cooling options, cooler interference and corresponding solutions are reviewed briefly, and then we focus our attention on the cryogenic design and selection of the materials. Over 30 cooler samples have been fabricated and tested systematically. A typical cooling power of over 100 mW at 80 K with 70 W input electrical power has been achieved. Detailed cooling performance and elementary interference characteristics of the coolers are also analyzed and evaluated.     

Navy Programs in Superconducting Technology

A review of U.S. Navy efforts in superconducting technology is given. Programs include development of superconducting magnets for motors in ship propulsion systems and to generate magnetic moments in mine sweeping systems. A program to develop superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) for detection of mines and buried ordnance has successfully been demonstrated. In electronic applications, superconducting filters, resonators, and antennae are being developed for radar, communication, and space systems. Concurrent with these superconductivity programs are efforts to improve the efficiency, reliability, and affordability of refrigeration systems.     

Superconducting instruments

Instruments utilizing superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDS) operating at liquid helium temperature offer the greatest available sensitivity for many different electromagnetic measurements. Their equivalent noise temperature of less than one mK and low drift allow low level measurements of ac and dc current, voltage and resistance. We describe SQUID arrays to measure small vector magnetic fields and spacial gradients associated with geophysical and biomedical phenomena and present information on the design, advantages and limitations of these systems.     

1988 Applied Superconductivity Conference

The following topics are dealt with: superconducting electronics; superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs); magnetometers; Josephson device memories; thin-film superconducting materials; tunnel junctions; Josephson device logic circuits; high-T_c (critical temperature) superconductors; YBaCuO superconductors: ceramic superconductor memories; millimeter-wave detectors; Josephson device mixers; superconducting transmission-line structure; superconducting microwave cavities; tunnel spectroscopy; laser-induced switching of superconductors; gradiometers; harmonic mixing; SIS (superconductor-insulator-superconductor) mixers; superconducting bolometers; superconductor device fabrication; SSC; (Superconductor Super Collider); magnets; superconducting magnets; chaos in Josephson junction systems; superconducting coils; superconducting material preparation; MHD; (magnetohydrodynamics) magnets; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnets; and niobium materials devices     

Confirmation of the INRiM and PTB Determinations of the Si Lattice Parameter

As metrology extends toward the nanoscale, a number of potential applications and new challenges arise. By combining photolithography with focused ion beam and/or electron beam methods, superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) with loop dimensions down to 200 nm and superconducting bridge dimensions of the order 80 nm have been produced. These SQUIDs have a range of potential applications. As an illustration, we describe a method for characterizing the effective area and the magnetic penetration depth of a structured superconducting thin film in the extreme limit, where the superconducting penetration depth A is much greater than the film thickness and is comparable with the lateral dimensions of the device     

Optimization of the working fluid in a Joule–Thomson cold stage

Vibration-free miniature Joule–Thomson (JT) coolers are of interest for cooling a wide variety of devices, including low-noise amplifiers, semiconducting and superconducting electronics, and small optical detectors used in space applications. For cooling such devices, coolers are needed which have operating temperatures within a wide temperature range of 2–250 K. In this paper, the optimization of the working fluid in JT cold stages is described that operate at different temperatures within that range. For each temperature, the most suitable working fluid is selected on the basis of the coefficient of performance of the cold stage, which is defined as the ratio of the gross cooling power to the change in Gibbs free energy of the fluid during compression. In addition, a figure of merit of the heat exchange in the counter-flow heat exchanger is evaluated that depends only on the properties of the working fluid.     

Vortex Matter in Active and Passive Superconducting Devices

In this contribution it is demonstrated (i) that active as well as passive superconducting devices can be used as very sensitive tools for detecting motion and penetration of vortices in superconducting material and (ii) that the analysis of the distribution of vortices in the device can be used for optimization of these devices for application. The potential for applications of superconducting devices strongly depends upon the reduction of dissipative processes due to vortex motion. Whereas vortex motion in active devices leads among others to increased low-frequency noise and, thus, reduces the sensitivity of e.g. SQUIDS, vortices in microwave devices reduce the quality factor and, finally, the power handling capability. For both types of devices vortex penetration at extremely low magnetic induction can be observed and the position of penetrating vortices can be deduced by adequate analysis of the recorded magnetic flux or power handling property for SQUIDS or resonator, respectively. The effect of vortex penetration and trapping of flux-for instance by strategically positioned antidots-upon the performance of the device will be demonstrated and, finally, methods to reduce or avoid the negative impact of vortices in these devices are sketched.     

Hybrid InAs nanowire-vanadium proximity SQUID

We report the fabrication and characterization of superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) based on InAs nanowires and vanadium superconducting electrodes. These mesoscopic devices are found to be extremely robust against thermal cycling and to operate up to temperatures of ～ 2.5 K with reduced power dissipation. We show that our geometry allows one to obtain nearly-symmetric devices with very large magnetic field modulation of the critical current. All these properties make these devices attractive for sensitive magnetometry applications and quantum circuit implementation.     

Effects of reservoir volume on performance of pulse tube cooler

A pulse tube cooler has the advantages of long-life and low-vibration over conventional cryocoolers such as G-M and Stirling coolers because of the absence of moving parts at low temperature. On the other hand, the combination of a reservoir and orifice is indispensable to optimize the performance of pulse tube coolers. In order to make the pulse tube cooler compact for practical applications, the volume of reservoir should be minimized. This paper analyzes the effects of the reservoir volume on the thermodynamic performance of various components in a simple orifice and a double-inlet pulse tube cooler by combining a linearized model with a thermodynamic analysis. Expressions of entropy production for those components are presented. The results show that the reservoir volume has a significant influence on the entropy production in the various components when the reservoir to pulse tube volume ratio is smaller than about 5. The ratio is important to determine the minimum reservoir volume for a pulse tube cooler. Optimum settings for a double-inlet pulse tube cooler are also discussed.     

Voltage-Biased Superconducting Transition-Edge Bolometer with Strong Electrothermal Feedback Operated at 370 mK

We present an experimental study of a composite voltage-biased superconducting bolometer (VSB). The tested VSB consists of a Ti-film superconducting thermometer (T(c) ~375 mK) on a Si substrate suspended by NbTi superconducting leads. A resistor attached to the substrate provides calibrated heat input into the bolometer. The current through the bolometer is measured with a superconducting quantum interference device ammeter. Strong negative electrothermal feedback fixes the bolometer temperature at T(c) and reduces the measured response time from 2.6 s to 13 ms. As predicted, the measured current responsivity of the bolometer is equal to the inverse of the bias voltage. A noise equivalent power of 5 x 10(-17) W/ radicalHz was measured for a thermal conductance G ~ 4.7 x 10(-10) W/K, which is consistent with the expected thermal noise. Excess noise was observed for bias conditions for which the electrothermal feedback strength was close to maximum.     

Operation of a TES microcalorimeter cooled by a compact liquid-helium-free He-He dilution refrigerator directly coupled to a Gifford-McMahon cooler

A superconducting transition edge thermosensor (TES) microcalorimeter was irradiated with LX-ray photons emitted by an ²⁴¹Am source maintained at an operating temperature of 120 mK using a compact liquid-helium-free ³He-⁴He dilution refrigerator directly coupled to a Gifford-McMahon (GM) cooler. The first and second stages of the GM cooler were directly coupled to the first and second pre-cool heat exchangers of a stick shaped dilution unit through copper plates in a vacuum chamber. The helium-free dilution refrigerator provided a cooling power of 20 μW at 100 mK. Detection signals of LX-ray photons emitted by the ²⁴¹Am source were observed by operating the TES microcalorimeter in a severe noise environment induced by the mechanical vibrations of the GM cooler.     

Coherent Caloritronics in Josephson-Based Nanocircuits

We describe here the first experimental realization of a heat interferometer, thermal counterpart of the well-known superconducting quantum interference device. These findings demonstrate, in the first place, the existence of phase-dependent heat transport in Josephson-based superconducting circuits and, in the second place, open the way to novel ways of mastering heat at the nanoscale. Combining the use of external magnetic fields for phase biasing and different Josephson junction architectures we show here that a number of heat interference patterns can be obtained. The experimental realization of these architectures, besides being relevant from a fundamental physics point of view, might find important technological application as building blocks of phase-coherent quantum thermal circuits. In particular, the performance of two different heat rectifying devices is analyzed.     

ATHENA X-IFU 300 K-50 mK cryochain demonstrator cryostat

In the framework of the ESA X-ray mission ATHENA, scheduled for launch in 2028, an ESA Core Technology Program (CTP) was started in 2016 to build a flight like cryostat demonstrator in parallel with the phase A studies of the ATHENA/X-IFU instrument [1], [2]. As part of this CTP, called the Detector Cooling System (DCS), design, manufacturing and test of a cryostat including existing space coolers will be done. In addition to the validation of thermal performance, a Focal Plan Assembly (FPA) demonstrator using Transition Edge Sensors (TES) detector technology will be also integrated and its performance characterized versus the environment provided by the cryostat. This is a unique opportunity to validate many crucial issues of the cryogenic part of such a sensitive instrument.A dedicated activity within this CTP-DCS is the demonstration of the 300 K–50 mK cooling chain in a Ground System Equipment (GSE) cryostat. The studies are focused on the operation of the space coolers, which is made possible by the use of a ground cooler for cooling cryogenic shields and mechanical supports. Thanks to the modularity of the cryostat, several cooling chains could be tested. In the base line configuration described here, the low temperature stage is the CEA hybrid sorption/ADR 50 mK cooler with thermal interfaces at 4 K and 2 K. 4 K cooling is accomplished by a 4 K Joule-Thomson (JT) cryocooler and its Stirling precooler provided by JAXA. Regarding the 2 K stage, at first a 2 K JT from JAXA will be used. Alternatively, a 2 K JT cooler from RAL could replace the JAXA 2 K JT. In both cases new prototype(s) of a 2 K JT will be implemented, precooled by the EM 15 K pule tube cooler from Air Liquide. This test program is also the opportunity to validate the operation of the cryochain with respect to various requirements, such as time constant and temperature stabilities. This would bring us valuable inputs to integrate the cryochain in DCS cryostat or for the X-IFU phase A studies. This cryochain demonstration is also a critical milestone for the SPICA mission [3]. The design of the cryostat and first thermal validations both before and after integration of the JAXA JT coolers are presented in this paper.     

Low-frequency magnetic interference in a SQUID gradiometer caused by a Cryotiger gas-mixture cooler

A Cryotiger^® gas-mixture cooler was applied for cooling of three high-T_c SQUID magnetometers. These SQUID magnetometers were mounted on an alumina holder in an axial gradiometer configuration. From 20 Hz upward, the system noise was about 0.1 pT/√Hz. Below this frequency, the noise gradually increased to a level of 10 pT/√Hz at 1 Hz. This low-frequency excess noise appeared to be due to remnant magnetization of the Cryotiger cold head. Movement of magnetic cold-head parts with respect to the SQUIDs are induced by pressure fluctuations in the heat exchanger lines. By using one SQUID as a reference for the cooler noise, a first-order gradiometer can be formed in which the cooler noise is eliminated. To establish a proper second-order gradiometer either a fourth SQUID has to be added, or the spatial separation between cold head and SQUIDs has to be increased significantly.     

The maximum temperature difference and polar characteristic of two-stage thermoelectric coolers

The maximum temperature differences (MTDs) of three types of two-stage thermoelectric (TE) coolers are analysed, which are the ones with thermocouples at two stages electrically connected in series and parallel and electrically separated, respectively. The analyses are all performed with respect to an important ratio r in two-stage TE coolers, viz the ratio of thermocouple number between stages. The MTDs of the first and the last configurations can be both far higher than that of a one-stage TE cooler, which may promote the cryogenic applications of TE coolers. When r approaches to infinity, close-form formulae of their limiting MTDs are found. In the mean time, the polar characteristic of two-stage TE coolers is discussed, when the supplied electric current(s) is alternated.     

Experimentally realizable devices for controlling the motion of magnetic flux quanta in anisotropic superconductors

A new generation of microscopic ratchet systems is currently being developed for controlling the motion of electrons and fluxons, as well as for particle separation and electrophoresis. Virtually all of these use static spatially asymmetric potential energies to control transport properties. Here we propose completely new types of ratchet-like systems that do not require fixed spatially asymmetric potentials in the samples. As specific examples of this novel general class of ratchets, we propose devices that control the motion of flux quanta in superconductors and could address a central problem in many superconducting devices; namely, the removal of trapped magnetic flux that produces noise. In layered superconductors there are two interpenetrating perpendicular vortex lattices consisting of Josephson vortices (JVs) and pancake vortices (PVs). We show that, owing to the JV-PV mutual interaction and asymmetric driving, the a.c. motion of JVs and/or PVs can provide a net d.c. vortex current. This controllable vortex motion can be used for making pumps, diodes and lenses of quantized magnetic flux. These proposed devices sculpt the microscopic magnetic flux profile by simply modifying the time dependence of the a.c. drive, without the need for samples with static pinning--for example, without lithography or irradiation.