In the Summer 2006 issue of Cold Facts, we debuted a feature story about outstanding young professionals (under 40 years of age) who are active in the cryogenics industry. This year, we again asked the cryogenics community for the names of up-and-coming “young faces.” Below is Part I of our third installment of Young Faces, with responses listed in order of receipt. If you know others who should be featured, please email editor@cryogenicsociety.org.
Amir E. Jahromi, 28
Educational background: I received my BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico–Albuquerque (main campus) in 2008. I received my MSc degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2011. I modeled, designed, constructed and assembled a 1K refrigeration system that uses a pulse tube cryocooler as its precooler. The refrigeration system achieved a low temperature of 1.3K.
I am currently pursuing a PhD degree at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the field of cryogenics and low temperature physics. I am specifically developing a non-moving-part proof of concept 3He-4He sub Kelvin refrigeration system with the potential to be used for space science applications.
Present company/position: I concurrently work at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in the Cryogenics and Fluids branch (Code 552), and am serving my second tour of duty at NASA-GSFC.
Awards and honors: BS degree: Dean’s list for several semesters; received Edward Grisso Scholarship at UNM in 2007; and member of the Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, Mortar Board and Golden Key honors societies. MS degree: Chester E. and Flora Jane LeRoy fellowship for 2009-2010 academic year. PhD degree: Robert and Ann Boltz distinguished graduate fellowship for 2011-12 academic year; Klaus-Timmerhaus fellowship for the 2013-2015 academic years (two years); and distinguished teaching assistant based on evaluations.
My contributions to the cryogenic field: My primary focus of research is the development of sub-Kelvin refrigeration systems for space science applications. As a graduate student at UW–Madison, my primary objective is to demonstrate a proof of concept non-moving near-Kelvin pump that could be ultimately utilized to move fluid around in a sub-Kelvin refrigeration system.
At NASA-GSFC, I have contributed to the ASTRO-H space flight project on a ground test support scheme during my first tour of duty and I am currently working on thermal validation of harnesses and cooling lines for the James Webb Space Telescope.
What I believe the most important development in cryogenics is: The list is long. Of the most significant developments/discoveries in the field of cryogenics are superfluidity, superconductivity (low and high SC), Josephson effect, development of MRIs and Superconducting Tunnel Junction.
Overall, in my opinion, demonstration and utilization of quantum effects at low temperatures are the most significant contributions to the field (i.e. superconductivity and superfluidity in 3He and 4He).
What I hope to see in the future: I hope to see discovery of higher temperature superconductors and colder/more powerful refrigeration systems that would be used for space science applications free of any moving parts. I am passionate to see the contributions of cryogenics to astrophysics and future cosmological discoveries so we get one step closer to many of our answers.
How I got into cryogenics: It all started with my fascination with heat transfer and thermodynamics when I was an undergraduate student at UNM. My undergraduate advisor was Professor Arsalan Razani, an active member in the field of cryogenics. My passion for cryogenics and low temperature applications grew more by working with my advisors at UW–Madison, Professor Franklin Miller and Professor Greg Nellis.
My mentor and my experience with him/her: My first mentors in the field of cryogenics are my advisors at UW–Madison, Professors Miller and Nellis. They both received their graduate degrees from MIT. My advisors have taught me to be more methodical and to approach every task in detail and with questions in mind.
Dr. Jim Tuttle and Dr. Dan Sullivan are my other mentors at NASA-GSFC. I am honored to have such great mentors. Their expertise and vast experience has significantly helped me to become a more careful experimentalist in the lab.
Dr. Xihuan Hao, 33
Educational Background: PhD in Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, 2008-2012, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China; Visiting Scholar, Jan.-March 2011, Center for Cryogenic Technology, Indian Institute of Science, India; MS in Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, 2004-2007, Harbin University of Commerce, China; and BS in Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, 2000-2004, Harbin University of Commerce, China.
Present company/position: Cryogenic Research Engineer at Advanced Research Systems, Inc.
Awards and honors: 2011, CEC/ICMC Student Travel Award, awarded by the Committee of the 2011 Cryogenic Engineering Conference/International Cryogenic Material Conference, US.
2011, Scholarship Award for Excellent Doctoral Student, awarded by Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China.
2010, National Quishi Scholarship, awarded by National Qui Shi Science and Technologies Foundation, China.
My contributions to the cryogenic field: My research work is mainly on improving Gifford-McMahon cryocooler efficiency, stability and longevity. Cryocooler technology is quickly becoming a most important technology, used in many fields including MRI machines, infrared detectors, cryogenic electronics, particle physics and superconductivity. My technology improves the efficiency and reliability of devices operating in the range between 2K and 10K.
One of the major complexities of the mechanical drive cryocoolers working at the sub 4K range is the dynamic cryogenic seal design. My research work on “Labyrinth sealing displacer in G-M refrigerator” increases the efficiency of cryocooler devices, thereby allowing any specific design to operate at lower temperatures. In addition, this new technology improves longevity and reliability, both critical to continued development of new technologies. My patent named “Rectification meshes in low temperature regenerator cryocooler” improves such aspects of cryocooler operation as gas distribution and heat exchange as well as regenerator material packing. These improvements have been shown to yield a 30 percent improvement in cryocooler capacity.
I also designed the cryogenic system for the dark matter detector in China (named Panda X). Panda X, a gas-liquid two-phase xenon Time Projection Chamber (TPC), is operated at cryogenic temperatures. This dark matter detector is located in a deep underground laboratory in China. I mainly designed and developed the procedures for xenon storage and recovery systems including xenon dewar, high pressure xenon gas bottles and corresponding cryogenic systems. Cryogenics is critical to dark matter research because xenon can only be kept liquid at cryogenic temperatures (179 Kelvin). An efficient cryogenic system is critical to the operation stability, reliability and safety of the dark matter detector.
I have had more than 30 papers published in leading international journals in the field, including Cryogenics and Heat Mass Transfer. I have presented my findings at major international conferences, including the 2011 and 2013 CEC conferences and ICEC/ICMC 2010.
What I believe the most important development in cryogenics is: With the wide application of high performance cryo-pumps, MRI machines, infrared detectors, cryogenic electronics, particle physics and superconductivity, the development of a high performance cryocooler is of critical importance, including its temperature, cooling power, lifetime, vibration and reliability. The 4K and lower temperature that can be attained by a two-stage cryocooler (G-M, pulse tube) is most important to cryogenics.
What I hope to see in the future: I hope to see a higher efficiency and reliable 4 Kelvin stage cryocooler developed and used in more fields and cryogenic applications.
How I got into cryogenics: Actually, I got into cryogenics by chance. When I was a child, I had a dream to be a scientist in the future. However, I was very confused when I was a teenager. One day I met my mentor, Professor Yonglin Ju, who introduced his cryogenic research work to me, and I found I was very interested in this work. He encouraged me to pursue my dreams, and I have enjoyed my research work in cryogenics so far.
My mentor and my experience with him/her: My mentor is Professor Yonglin Ju. He is a full Professor working at Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), China, since 2005. He was an Associate Scientist in the Department of Physics at Columbia University from 2002 to 2005. He received the Carl von Linde Prize in 2003, awarded by the International Institute of Refrigeration. This prize honors distinguished scientists in the field of refrigeration and cryogenics every four years.
He is a very nice professor, and gave me a lot of good instructions and suggestions in my cryogenic research work. He always encourages me to pursue my dreams in cryogenic research. He is a good teacher and a helpful friend.
Dr. Sunil Kedia, 29
Educational background: PhD in Applied Superconductivity. My PhD research topic is “Study of Laboratory and fusion grade technical superconducting magnets.”
Present company/position: Senior Executive (Technical) (R&D) at Crompton Greaves Limited.
Awards and honors: My name is included in Marquis Who’s Who 2014, and I am recommended for the 2015 edition. My name is also included in “2000 Intellectuals of 21st Century” by International Biographical Centre. I am a member of IEEE societies.
My contributions to the cryogenic field: I have worked extensively with cryogenic fluids like supercritical, liquid, two phase, and gaseous helium and sub-cooled liquid nitrogen for the testing of superconducting magnets and other devices. One of my noticeable contributions is describing the behavior of the Reynolds number with cryogenic fluids in cable-in-conduit conductors of the first Indian superconducting fusion reactor. I have participated in the design of a superconducting magnet system for the first Indian gyrotorn. I have worked extensively in the validation and refurbishment of the first Indian superconducting fusion reactor. I am a part of the team who have validated a superconducting fault current limiter (FCL) at 440 V, 800 A and designed the 12 kV, 100 A system in India. This FCL is being fabricated with a plan of field installation and demonstration.
What I believe the most important development in cryogenics is: The most important development in cryogenics is the commercialization of reliable cryocoolers which has promised a dry superconducting device, whether it is a superconducting magnet, superconductor-based power equipment or a transmission line. With the use of cryocoolers, the implementation of superconductor based equipment can be practically and economically possible.
What I hope to see in the future: With the recent demonstration of the superconductor grid in China, I hope to see superconductor-based grids everywhere in the world installed with superconducting transformers, fault current limiters, transmission lines, magnetic energy storage and even renewable energy generation such as superconducting generators in wind turbines.
How I got into cryogenics: I joined the Institute for Plasma Research, India, in 2006 in the superconducting magnet group. My first project was to design the superconducting magnet system for the 42.2 GHz gyrotron being developed in India for the first time. In addition, I had been given the opportunity to work closely in the dismantling of the Superconducting Tokamak (SST-1). Various design aspects of SST-1 were validated in later lab scale experiments and then the SST-1 refurbishment was done. During the past 5.5 years, I have gained in-depth knowledge of working with liquid helium, supercritical helium, liquid nitrogen, vacuum and auxiliary systems. I was involved in the estimation of hydraulic behavior of SST-1 CICC, where unique results were observed for the cryogen as a function of temperature.
My mentor and my experience with him/her: Dr. Subrata Pradhan was my supervisor during my tenure at the Institute for Plasma Research. He headed the superconducting magnet division at IPR when I joined. Later, he headed the SST-1 mission team with the goal of refurbishing the Tokamak. With his guidance and constant motivation, I gained a command of superconductivity and cryogenics. Later, I earned my PhD under his guidance and completed my work in fusion grade superconducting magnets.
Thom Bostock, 29
Educational background: I obtained a Bsc in Product Design with Professional Experience from the University of Brighton, UK.
Present company/position: University of Southampton, Consulting Engineer with Research Institute for Industry.
My contributions to the cryogenic field: On a day-to-day basis my role consists of consultancy work for industrial clients: from smaller domestic companies to large multinational corporations. The work is very diverse, ranging from testing component parts of spacecraft to ensure they operate correctly at 4.2K to measuring thermal and mechanical properties of insulation materials used in LNG carriers.
In addition to this I also co-chair the Education and Training group of the British Cryo Cluster with my colleague Dr. Wendell Bailey. Our group’s focus is on education and commercial training within the field of cryogenics. Our group aims to promote universities that offer cryogenic training as part of a degree program or conduct research in the cryogenic arena. However, we appreciate that an understanding of cryogenics should be developed from a younger age in students, and we are working closely with the University Technical College Oxfordshire to integrate cryogenics into young people’s basic education. In addition, we are working towards creating a cryogenic apprenticeship, a distinct initiative through which students will obtain a specific qualification in cryogenics. In relation to commercial training, the group works closely with several training providers to develop courses. A list of these institutions and providers is available from the British Cryogenics Council.
What I believe the most important development in cryogenics is: High temperature superconductors. 77K superconductors which are easier to work with and produce into wires/tapes/windings will allow expansion of this technology to revolutionize power generation, transport and so many elements of our day-to-day life.
What I hope to see in the future: A better understanding of engineers and engineering: until there is more appreciation of engineers within society I expect that cryogenics will continue to be viewed as “mad scientists” preserving frozen heads.
How I got into cryogenics: I specialized in product testing, and many of the products we tested required or produced very low temperatures. This gave me experience to build upon when I started at the University of Southampton.
My mentor and my experience with him/her: When I began working at the University of Southampton I was supervised by Dr. Paul McDonald, who had managed the cryogenic consultancy at the University of Southampton for over 30 years. He took the time to teach me a great deal about the science and history of cryogenics, and he introduced me to many prominent figures within UK cryogenics.
