Dry 3He/4He-Dilution refrigerator with pulse tube cooler

• Subject Area: Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: Funded in 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 467785074

The gain of new knowledge in science as well as the expansion of technological possibilities in the industrial environment are very often accompanied by advances in the development of sensor and detector systems. In particular, it very often becomes apparent that conventional detector and sensor systems do not meet the requirements set by science, society and industry. For this reason, there is nowadays a strong focus on developing detectors and sensors based on quantum technology. By exploiting quantum mechanical effects, this kind of detectors allow increasing the detector performacne far beyond the limits of classical systems. The research activities at the Institute of Micro- and Nanoelectronic Systems (IMS) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) aim at the development of such quantum-technological detectors and sensors. Specifically, superconductor-based multi-channel detector and sensor systems with ultra-high time and energy resolution are developed in order to establish them as a key technology in basic research, applied research as well as industry.For the operation and characterization of the developed detectors, a 3He/4He dilution refrigerator is required that can continuously generate the operating temperatures between 10 mK and 10 K as required for the different detector and sensor technologies. Pre-cooling of the system must not require the use of a helium bath or must be based on a pulse tube cooler to allow the coupling of photons or massive particles from external sources. In addition, the cryostat must offer the possibility to install cold electronic components necessary for the operation of the detectors and sensors.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Trockener 3He/4He-Verdünnungskryostat mit Pulsröhrenkühler
• Instrumentation Group: 8550 Spezielle Kryostaten (für tiefste Temperaturen)
• Applicant Institution: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
• Leader: Professor Dr. Sebastian Kempf