Low-cost, compact dilution refrigerator for particle detector applications

Description/Abstract

We have developed a one-shot /sup 3/He-/sup 4/He dilution refrigerator using charcoal pumps that is of a very compact and simple design (essentially portable) and eliminates many of the problem areas of continuously operating refrigerators. It will cool below 0.015 K and run at this temperature for more than 10 hours. It is likely that a typical user would make whatever measurements were desired during the 10 hour running time at low temperature and then let the system recycle automatically overnight. For operation at higher temperatures, the running time is expected to be considerably longer. This refrigerator would also be ideally suited for particle detector applications requiring temperatures below 300 mK. With computer control, the refrigerator can be run relatively unattended, except for replenishing the liquid /sup 4/He bath, for indefinite periods of time by persons with little or no expertise with dilution refrigerators, and at considerably less expense (and maintenance) than conventional systems. Thus the inherent low noise accompanying very low temperature operation can be available to everyone. 5 figs.