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

Improved LUX sensitivity helps redefine dark matter search parameters

Scientists working on the Large Underground Xenon (LUX) dark matter experiment are closer to ruling out the possibility of dark matter detections at low-mass ranges. The new findings come after researchers enhanced LUX's ability to look for WIMPS, or weakly interacting massive particles, and thereafter reexamined data collected during LUX's...

TRIUMF and KEK strengthen partnership to advance physics research

At a signing ceremony hosted on December 4 at the Canadian Embassy in Japan, the heads of Canada’s TRIUMF and Japan’s KEK signed a new partnership agreement to enhance research collaborations between the two centers and promote joint projects in the areas of subatomic physics, accelerator science and materials science.

Researchers developing shoebox-sized particle accelerator

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation in November awarded $13.5 million to Stanford University for an international effort, including key contributions from the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, to build a working particle accelerator the size of a shoebox. The technique, based on a technology known as “accelerator...

Innovation boosts study of fragile biological samples at SLAC’s LCLS

Researchers at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have found a simple new way to study very delicate biological samples—like proteins at work in photosynthesis and components of protein-making machines called ribosomes—at the atomic scale using SLAC's Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-ray laser.

SCOAP3 outlines its impact on open access publishing

The SCOAP3 (Sponsoring Consortium for Open Access Publishing in Particle Physics) executive committee on November 18 held an online forum to discuss the partnership’s impact since its founding in nearly two years ago. SCOAP3 members include libraries, publishers, funding agencies and research centers in more than 40 countries with CERN...

Worthington acquires Taylor Wharton’s CryoScience business

Worthington Industries, Inc., announced its cryogenics business in the pressure cylinders segment is purchasing the assets of the global CryoScience business of Taylor Wharton Cryogenics, including a manufacturing facility in Theodore AL. Worthington will also acquire certain other intellectual property and manufacturing assets of Taylor Wharton focused on the cryogenic...

Latest in Defining Cryogenics

Refrigerators and Liquefiers

Two of the most common terms used in cryogenics are “refrigerator” and “liquefier.” These terms describe similar and, as will be seen, in some cases identical components. A refrigerator provides cooling (that is, absorbs heat) at cryogenic temperatures. Refrigerators typically put a working fluid (such as helium) through one of...

Air Separation

Air separation is one of the largest, as well as earliest, industrial applications of cryogenics. In this process, cryogenic temperatures are used to separate air into its constituent gases: nitrogen (78.08%), oxygen (20.95%), argon (0.93%) and carbon dioxide (0.3%). Trace gases such as krypton, neon, xenon and helium total far...

Coefficient of Performance and Figure of Merit

The coefficient of performance (COP) is used to describe the effectiveness of refrigerators, including those operating at cryogenic temperatures. The COP is defined as the amount of heat removed at the cryogenic operating temperature of the refrigerator divided by the amount of work that must be applied to remove the...

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

An Issue of Pressure and Flow Rate in a Supply Tank

Please help solve this problem: A supply tank requires a vaporizer to generate sufficient pressure to pump stored fluid up into a vehicle or tank. The available head is limited as the tank level falls and it is important to minimize the system pressure drop to maintain the desired flow...

Using MLI on VJ Line Joints or Cryo Storage Tanks

When installing Multi Layer Insulation (MLI) blankets on VJ line joints or cryo storage tanks should they be wrapped and tied down tight or loose? These are usually pre-cut to size. Also should they have an access hole at the point of where the molecular sieve is installed to help...

Separated layers of ice over a pipe

I want to know that why there are different layers of ice over a pipe carrying a cryogenic fluid, each layer separated with clear marks / lines? What do these layers signify?

Using nitrogen as a cryogen

Is it possible to achieve -200˚C using nitrogen as a cryogen?

CATEGORIES