Development of GM cryocooler separate type liquid-helium-free 3He-4He dilution refrigerator system

Abstract

We developed the new liquid-helium-free dilution refrigerator system, in which the Gifford-McMahon (GM) cycle cryocooler and dilution refrigerator (DR) unit are separated. We obtained the base temperature below 50 mK in this DR system. In usual liquid-helium-free DR systems, the DR unit directly couples with GM-cryocooler in the same vacuum chamber. Therefore the mechanical vibration of GM-cryocooler is hardly removed from DR unit. In order to eliminate the vibration problem, the separated vacuum chamber contacting the GM-cryocooler is connected with the DR unit chamber by the flexible hose with length of about 1 meter. Thin flexible tubes used for circulation of the refrigerant gas and radiation shield are installed in the connection hose. The 4He gas, cooled in the GM-cryocooler unit, transfers to the DR unit throw the thin flexible tubes. After cooling the DR unit, the gas returns to GM-cryocooler unit with cooling of the radiation shield. We expect that our separate-type dilution refrigerator becomes a useful piece of apparatus for the low temperature experiments. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.