Note: Cryogenic heat switch with stepper motor actuator

Journal Article · Tue Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4939041· OSTI ID:22482684

Melcher, B. S., E-mail: [e-mail]; Timbie, P. T., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (United States)

A mechanical cryogenic heat switch has been developed using a commercially available stepper motor and control electronics. The motor requires 4 leads, each carrying a maximum, pulsed current of 0.5 A. With slight modifications of the stepper motor, the switch functions reliably in vacuum at temperatures between 300 K and 4 K. The switch generates a clamping force of 262 N at room temperature. At 4 K it achieves an “on state” thermal conductance of 5.04 mW/K and no conductance in the “off state.” The switch is optimized for cycling an adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator.

• OSTI ID: 22482684
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 86, Issue 12; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ACTUATORS
ADIABATIC DEMAGNETIZATION
CONTROL
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC MOTORS
HEAT
REFRIGERATORS
SWITCHES
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0273-0400 K