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Latest in News
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Gravity Probe B demonstrates Einstein theory

A high-powered team of physicists and engineers has concluded that NASA’s $700 million Gravity Probe B (GP-B) experiment demonstrated two key aspects of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, but not to the hoped-for degree of confidence.
May 24, 2011
News

KEK Director General assesses earthquake damage, tells repair plans

Atsuto Suzuki, Director General at KEK, the Japanese high energy accelerator research organization, reported on damage caused by the recent earthquake and recovery prospects in his “DG’s Corner” column: First of all, I would like to express my deepest appreciation for the messages of concern, sympathy and encouragement that we...
May 24, 2011
News

Superconductivity pioneer Paul Chu featured in exhibit

Superconductivity Pioneer Paul Chu was featured in an unusual exhibit in Texas. A white lab coat and a pair of worn sneakers are almost standard-issue items for a research facility, but they don't seem to rise to the rank of museum exhibit. Yet, that’s exactly where you can find one...
May 24, 2011
News

Paul Chu expected more progress by now

Superconductivity pioneer Dr. Paul Chu expected faster progress since his discoveries, he told Cold Facts Editor Theresa Boehl in a recent brief interview. Cold Facts: Did you have any idea of the potential impact of superconductivity when you were doing your groundbreaking research years ago? Chu: Yes, I think I...
May 24, 2011
News

Mathias Kläui Wins Kurti Science Prize

Oxford Instruments NanoScience announced that Professor Mathias Kläui from the SwissFEL, Paul Scherrer Institut and the Laboratory of Nanomagnetism and Spin Dynamics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, is the 2011 recipient of the Nicholas Kurti European Science Prize.
May 24, 2011

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Latest in Defining Cryogenics
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...
July 15, 2015
Defining Cryogenics

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...
April 13, 2015
Defining Cryogenics

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...
March 17, 2015
Latest in Cryo Central
Cryo Central

Magnets

From “Superconductivity: Present and Future Applications” by the Coalition for the Commercial Application of Superconductors. Particle physics uses accelerators to recreate the conditions of the early universe in an attempt to piece together the complex puzzle of how we got to where we are today. These huge machines are used...
May 27, 2010
Cryo Central

Energy Storage

From “Superconductivity: Present and Future Applications” by the Coalition for the Commercial Application of Superconductors. With power lines increasingly congested and prone to instability, strategic injection of brief bursts of real power can play a crucial role in maintaining grid reliability. Small-scale Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) systems, based on...
May 27, 2010
Cryo Central

Astronomy

ASTRONOMY IN SPACE by Peter V. Mason, retired,  Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Visiting Associate, California Institute of Technology. Pmason@alumni.caltech.edu In thinking about the reasons to perform astronomy in space, we first consider the effect of the earth’s atmosphere.  On a scale of decreasing energy, gamma rays, cosmic rays, X-rays and...
May 25, 2010
Cryo Central

Cryocoolers

What is a Cryocooler? A mechanism that can extract heat from an object (cooler) and by doing so draw its temperature down below approximately 150 Kelvin (cryo). — (Courtesy Dr. Willy Gully) What is the difference between a Cryocooler and a Cryostat? A cryostat is any device designed to maintain...
April 13, 2010
Latest in Ask the Experts
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...
April 20, 2018
Ask the Experts

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...
April 20, 2018