Our partner

4 K Cryocoolers

from Lake Shore Cryotronics

4K cryocoolers allow you to cool samples, devices and other equipment without the inconvenience and expense of liquid helium.

Features

Gifford-McMahon (G-M) refrigerator
Pulse tube (PT) refrigerator
Cryogen free operation
<4 K to 325 K (500 K and 800 K versions available on many models)

Further information

Why should I consider using a 4 K cryocooler?

4 K cryocoolers allow you to cool samples, devices, and/or equipment without the inconvenience and expense of liquid helium. They can be applied to a broad range of applications in both research and industry. Some typical uses include materials research, superconductivity, cryopumps, shield cooling, and helium recondensing.

How do 4 K cryocoolers work?

Two-stage Gifford-McMahon (G-M) refrigerator systems have been in widespread use for several decades. Room temperature helium gas is first compressed and then supplied to the refrigerator via flexible gas lines. The compressed helium is cooled by expansion and provides cooling to two heat stations on the refrigerator. After cooling the refrigerator, the gas is returned to the compressor to repeat the cycle.

Pulse tube (PT) refrigerator systems use a similar compression/expansion cycle but eliminate the moving regenerator found in G-M cryocoolers. PT cryocoolers often have reduced vibration levels at the vacuum interface flange as compared with G-M systems.

Sumitomo Heavy Industries (SHI) 4 K cryocoolers are available in both modified G-M cycle and PT configurations, employing rare-earth heat exchanger materials. These materials retain useful heat capacity to temperatures below 4 K, resulting in base temperatures previously unobtainable in a two-stage cryocooler.

Is a 4 K cryocooler economically practical?

Prior to the introduction of 4 K cryocoolers, liquid helium was most commonly used to cool equipment and experiments to 4 K. The following chart shows the operating cost of a typical liquid helium-cooled apparatus (not including storage Dewar evaporative losses). In some cases, the entire cost of a 4 K refrigerator can be recovered in the first year!

Why should I choose Janis Research?

Janis Research is a distributor of 4 K G-M refrigerators manufactured by the Cryogenic Department of SHI. More than just a distributor, Janis is a preferred cryostat partner of SHI and has been manufacturing cryogenic equipment for over 50 years. Our team of engineers and designers include many with advanced degrees, with over 200 years of combined experience in the field of cryogenics. This experience and innovation were rewarded with a 1998 R&D 100 award, as well as two of NASA’s Public Service Group Achievement Awards.