The Einstein Telescope (ET) is a 3rd generation gravitational wave detector planned in Europe, combining a low-frequency (LF) and a high-frequency (HF) laser interferometer. Cryogenic operation of ET-LF in the temperature range of 10 K to 20 K is essential to suppress the suspension thermal noise (STN), which dominates the detection sensitivity at frequencies below 10 Hz.
The ERC project...
The 4He Joule-Thomson cryocooler (JTC) utilizes the JT effect of 4He to typically achieve the temperature of about 4 K. It can be used to cool the detectors with the operating temperature of 4 K and precool the sub-Kelvin refrigerators, which is widely used in space missions such as Astro-H, SPICA, ATHENA, and etc. Based our laboratory’s research, an engineering prototype of the 4He JTC...
A 4K hybrid JT cooler is developed to precool the adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR) of Hot Universe Baryon Surveyor (HUBS) mission which is proposed to study “missing” baryons in the universe. The 4K hybrid JT cooler is composed of a 4He JT cooler precooled by a two-stage thermally coupled pulse tube cooler. Recently, the two-stage pulse tube cooler is optimized to provide more...
In cryogenic refrigeration systems, such as those used in space exploration instruments, heat loads (e.g., detectors) are typically fastened directly to cold sources (e.g., cryocooler cold heads) to minimize thermal resistance. However, in certain scenarios where a considerable distance exists between the detector and the cold source, direct connection is not feasible. In such cases,...
Handling cryogenic propellants in space is very difficult.
In particular, in micro-gravity, liquid and gas are not separated and mixed, so when the vent valve is opened to reduce the increased tank pressure due to external heat inflow, propellant loss occurs.
Therefore, in order to reduce propellant consumption and internal tank pressure, a thermodynamic vent system, TVS, is required to...
Chamber D is a Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) chamber that is currently being developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Crew and Thermal Systems Division (CTSD) Systems Test Branch (EC4) to simulate the thermal profile of a lunar Permanently Shadowed Region (PSR). To achieve the target thermal environments, a gaseous helium cooled shroud is being integrated into an existing...
Space cryocoolers permit cryogenic cooling of space-based astronomy instruments and a range of other sensors and detectors across electromagnetic wavelengths. This study investigates the energy requirements and performance of various cryocooler designs, with a focus on Stirling, pulse tube, and Stirling pulse tube cryocoolers (SPTCs). These systems are essential for missions requiring high...
Despite repeated proposals to utilize superconducting magnets in space since at least the 1970s [1], examples of their use remain scant [2]. One of the technical challenges is to maintain suitable cryogenic temperatures on a spacecraft. This challenge can be alleviated by the use of flux pumps [3] to reduce the required cryogenic cooling power needed to energize the superconducting magnet....
