Cold Facts Digital – The go-to place for Cryogenics and Superconductivity

In Memoriam: David Pegg

Former president of the Society for Cryobiology, Dr. David Pegg has died at 86. Pegg helped set up the international Society for Cryobiology in 1964, and start its journal, Cryobiology, of which he later became editor in chief, eventually becoming the society’s president from 1974-75. A pioneer in the field...

ISRO To Test Semi-Cryogenic Engine In Ukraine

ISRO, the Indian space agency, moving on from their not-so-successful moon landing attempt, has started to look ahead to upcoming missions. The next feat is a group of liftoffs, starting with PSLV 47 later this month. The first step is inspection and trial of the semi-cryogenic engine in Ukraine.

KEK Publishes the International Working Group’s Recommendations for International Linear Collider

KEK has received the International Working Group’s report of recommendations regarding the International Linear Collider (ILC) project and published a document, “Recommendations on ILC Project Implementation," outlining the suggestions. The report calls for cost-sharing programs for the civil engineering projects, accelerator components, conventional facilities construction and operating costs. It goes...

World’s First Hydrogen Powered Boat Docks in London

The world's first hydrogen powered boat has docked in London, the last stop of its European tour. The 30-meter Energy Observer acts as a “floating lab” for testing green maritime technology. It harnesses electricity from three renewable energies¬¬¬–hydrogen, solar and wind–to propel the boat and charge its batteries. Using this...

“Orange” You Excited for SLAC’s New X-Ray Laser?

See upgrades to SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory’s X-ray laser, including some of the 37 cryomodules to be completed, in a collection of photos showcasing its trademark orange styling, and learn more about the experiments it will enable.

SOFIA Soars to Observe the Universe

SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, is a unique plane-based observatory housed inside a 747 aircraft. A joint project between NASA, Universities Space Research Association, and the German Aerospace Center-DLR since 1997, it takes advantage of the stratosphere to eliminate the absorbing effect atmospheric water has on infrared observations....

Latest in Defining Cryogenics

Dewar

A dewar is a type of cryostat named after Sir James Dewar, the researcher who first developed the concept of a vacuum insulated container with silvered walls to reflect thermal radiation. Dewar was the first to liquefy hydrogen, and he created the device to store his discovery. The thermos bottle...

Stirling and Gifford-McMahon Cryocoolers

Stirling and Gifford-McMahon (GM) cryocoolers are two of the most commonly used cryocoolers in cryogenics. Both devices have a significant industrial base and operate at a wide range of temperatures and capacities. The thermodynamic cycles for both of these cryocoolers are quite similar. The Stirling cycle consists of a compressor,...

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

A significant commercial application of cryogenics is the liquefaction, transport and storage of natural gas. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is generally 95 percent methane with a few percent ethane and much lower concentrations of propane and butane. LNG liquefies at 111.6 K. Unlike many applications of cryogenics, the motivation for...

Latest in Cryo Central

Cryogenic Electronics

Randall Kirschman, consulting physicist, Mountain View, California ExtElect@gmail.com Cryogenic electronics—the operation of electronic devices, circuits, and systems at cryogenic temperatures—has been a valuable technology for decades. Cryogenic electronics (also referred to as low-temperature electronics, or cold electronics) can be based on semiconductive devices, on superconductive devices, or on a combination...

Particle Physics: High Energy Physics

Cryogenics and High-Energy Physics 1. From symmetry magazine: http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/cms/?pid=1000627: Cryogenics is the study of how materials behave at temperatures near absolute zero. In high-energy particle accelerators, such frigid temperatures reduce the electrical resistance of wires in superconducting magnets, increasing the magnet strength and allowing faster particle acceleration. The same holds...

HTS Degaussing Systems

From the Spring 2009 issue of Cold Facts (Volume 25, Number 2): Thanks to a joint project by the US Navy and a number of industry partners, high temperature superconducting (HTS) technology is now at the heart of an advanced degaussing system aboard the USS Higgins at the naval station...

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

From http://www.superconductors.org: An area where superconductors can perform a life-saving function is in the field of biomagnetism. Doctors need a non-invasive means of determining what’s going on inside the human body. By impinging a strong superconductor-derived magnetic field into the body, hydrogen atoms that exist in the body’s water and...

Latest in Ask the Experts

What is the temperature range of cryogenics?

Could you please tell me what is the temperature range of cryogenics? In other words, is -100°F considered cryogenic, or does it start lower? Could I expect to see some extended life in D2 stamping dies? What would the recipe be to achieve the desired results using cryogenics?