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Lake Shore Unveils New Probe Arm

Lake Shore Cryotronics, Inc. (CSA CSM) is now offering for pre-order a unique terahertz-frequency probe arm option for its CPX, CPX-VF, CRX-4K and CRX-VF cryogenic probe stations. The arm enables precise probing and measurement of millimeter-wave devices at 75 to 110 GHz (WR10 band) or 140 to 220 GHz (WR5.1...

New Multi-Layer Insulation Hybrid is Supacool

Technical Fibre Products has launched of a new variant of its Supacool range of lightweight cryogenic tissues. It features a lightweight microfine glass spacer tissue co-wound with aluminum foil, forming the basis of multi-layer insulation or super insulation that can be inserted between the inner and outer walls of a...

Dark Matter Unseen in Hitomi’s Glimpse at Perseus Cluster

A large X-ray signal previously seen emanating from the Perseus galaxy cluster did not appear in the final data sent by the Hitomi spacecraft, casting a shadow over speculation that the anomalously bright signal might have come from dark matter.

Navy Buoys Cryogenic Radio Frequency Research

The US Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific recently awarded contracts that shore up its efforts to develop new cryogenic radio systems. The award covers a broad range of R&D, according to the bid proposal, including signal detection, conditioning, conversion, processing and storage.

Physicists Reach 91 K with Laser Cooling

A group of scientists at the University of New Mexico’s Department of Physics and Astronomy are using lasers to advance optical refrigeration, a technique that reaches cryogenic temperatures without any moving parts.

Chicago Hosts World’s Largest High-Energy Physics Conference

More than 1,300 physicists from around the world will converge in Chicago for the biennial International Conference on High Energy Physics (ICHEP) in August to share new research results, announce new projects and talk about the most intriguing mysteries of the universe. The conference will meet August 3-10 at Chicago's...

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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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...